Before You Plant

Once you receive your strawberry plants, make sure you plant them as soon as possible. If you aren’t able to get them in the ground, make sure they stay as cool as possible. Smaller amounts of plants you can store in the refrigerator.

Strawberries perform well in fertile, well-drained soils that is high in organic matter. The ideal pH for strawberries is 5.5 to 6.5. Prepare the soil with organic soil amendments prior to planting.

The plants do not tolerate drought or standing water. Overhead irrigation during the fruiting season can potentially damage the fruit. Drip irrigation is the preferred method of strawberry production.

Planting

Plant spacing of 12” is common, depending on the variety.

When planting the crowns, first dig a hole for each plant, large enough to place the roots spaced downwards. The crown should be planted to where the mid-point of the crown is directly at the soil surface. Planting the crown too low will inhibit the growing tip of the plant and planting the crown too high will expose the roots and possibly dry out.

Irrigate the plants soon after planting.