Strawberries – how to grow your own

Strawberries should be planted in full sun, and it’s ideal to place them in a spot facing south or east. Avoid planting them where strawberries have been grown before, as there might be lingering diseases in the soil. Monthly strawberries don't require as much sun as other varieties and can produce fruit well into the fall. These are similar to wild strawberries, which are small, sweet, and naturally growing strawberry plants.

It doesn't take much before you have your very own strawberries in hand, but here are a few tips that might be worth keeping in mind:

Strawberries thrive in well-drained, moderately fertile soil. The soil can contain a fair amount of sand and gravel. Sandy clay soil works fine as well. Remove all weeds from the area and mix in compost before creating small raised rows, which you can cover with a plastic or fiber cloth. Covering with plastic can help prevent weeding, warm up the soil, and prevent the strawberries from rotting as easily as they would if left directly on the ground. Plant the plants 30-40 cm apart, with at least 50-60 cm between rows. An alternative to fabric is to lay straw or grass clippings around the plants to protect them from soil splash and pests.

In spring, give them a dose of fertilizer, and during dry periods, make sure to water regularly.

Every spring, remove dead plant parts. Continuously remove runners throughout the summer. In the fall, trim the plants down to about 5 cm in height.

After 3-4 years, the plants will start producing poorly and should be replaced. If you take care of the runners every third year and plant them elsewhere in the garden, you'll have new plants to set out the following year. You should keep the first runner closest to the mother plant and allow it to root in a pot first.

Ideally, you should practice crop rotation in your vegetable garden, so feel free to establish a new strawberry bed in another location.

Birds love strawberries, so if you want to keep them safe, you should cover the berries. Use netting. If your beds aren't too large, you can create a frame and cover it with chicken wire — it's easy to lift off when it's time to harvest.

It's absolutely possible to grow strawberries even if you only have a balcony at your disposal. Make the most of pots and containers!

1. Place a 4–5 cm thick layer of expanded clay (lecakuler) at the bottom of the pot.
2. Add a layer of weed cloth or garden fabric over the expanded clay.
3. Fill with potting soil mixed with well-rotted manure compost.
4. Plant the strawberry plants about 30 cm apart.

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