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Strawberries      

	June-bearing strawberries produce a crop in June and normally produce the largest yield per season.
	Everbearing strawberries produce a crop in June and another in late summer.
	Day-neutral strawberries set buds continuously all season.

Light	Strawberries require at least 10 hours of full sun daily.
Soil	Prefers fertile, well-drained, light soil.
Planting	Prepare the garden by removing existing vegetation. Till the soil 8–12" deep. For new gardens, till in organic matter such as peat moss or manure. Create rows mounded 6-8" high and 12-18" wide. Dig a hole large enough to fit the root ball with the buds at ground level.
Spacing	Space plants 1 foot apart in staggered rows. Leave 2 feet between rows.
Mulch	Provide thin layer of mulch, such as Earth Food. Mulching cools the soil, conserves water and helps with weeds.
Watering	After planting, water well. Once established, strawberries generally require an average 1" of moisture per week.
Fertilizer	Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer such as 10–10–10 each spring.
Grooming	Remove runners from spring through July in the first growing season. In mid-August, allow each plant to develop one or two runners. Regularly weed the garden; excessive weeds will reduce yield.
Additional Care	The original plant will typically produce for 3 years. After that, remove original plant and allow the secondary plants to grow.
Winter Care	Mulch with straw or chopped leaves 4–6" inches deep after several hard frosts when the ground is frozen. Uncover in early spring once the ground begins to thaw.

Problem	Cause(s)	Solution(s)
Bud Weevils	Crops are attacked in early spring as adult bud weevils emerge from overwintering sites in woodlots and along fencerows. Using their snouts to puncture the immature flower buds, they feed on pollen.	The presence of one cut bud for every 4-5 plants indicates the need for insecticide application, such as Bonide Eight.
Slugs	Damage is usually noted in the morning, as slugs generally feed at night. They may also be found feeding during the day when it is cloudy. Slugs are more common during periods of wet weather.	Slug traps in the garden can minimize this pest.
Powdery Mildew	Frequent water on leaves. Poor air circulation.	Follow the recommended spacing of plants. A high degree of resistance is present in many cultivars.
Leaf Spot	Leaf diseases survive the winter on infected leaves or other overwintering fungal structures. The new disease cycle begins when rain or wind disperse fungal material to new leaves.	Mid-aged leaves are most susceptible. Treat with protective fungicides, such as “Liquid Copper." Plant resistant cultivars of pathogen-free stock.
Fruit Diseases	Frequent rains produce maximum rot development.	Mulch, remove debris, and plant in narrower row widths to reduce this disease. Reduce fruit contact with the soil.
Verticillium Wilt	Verticillium wilt is a soil borne fungal disease that has no cure.	When plants develop this diseases, remove and destroy them. Plant resistant varieties in a different place.

Additional Bachman's Information

	Grapes
	Raspberries
	Blueberries
	Fruit Trees

Bachman's Floral, Gift & Garden Centers
Your local garden expert since 1885.
bachmans.com | ©Bachman's 2012

Select source information provided by the University of Minnesota Extension, www.extension.umn.edu.

Last Updated: May 2012