Growing Strawberries

Download a pdf on Growing Strawberries

We have a general guide to getting started with shrub and vine fruit here.

Strawberries are easy to grow in the Pacific Northwest. Two types are widely grown in home gardens. June (Main Crop) Bearing types bear one crop of berries in June or early July. Day neutral (Everbearing) types produce both flowers and fruit from June through September or October.

Site Selection

Strawberries prefer sandy, well-drained soil and full sun. Remove all weeds, and work in compost before planting. Strawberries need at least 6-8 hours of sun Spring through Fall to produce quality fruit. Plant dormant plants late winter through mid-spring. Trim the roots to 4″-5″, and set so that the crown is at soil level. Do not bury the crown too deep!

Strawberries need soil moisture to thrive. The most crucial times are before and during harvest, and in late summer and early fall when June bearers are forming flower buds for next year’s fruit. Drip or soaker hose irrigation is preferred to avoid fruit rot. Control weeds to reduce competition in the bed. Mulching can help suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Mulch can also help keep the berries off the soil.

June or Main Crop Bearers

June bearers or Main Crop should be planted 15″-24″ apart in rows spaced 36″-42″, and runners allowed to fill the spaces between the plants to form a solid row 14″-18″ wide. These plants are very upright and vigorous. Remove the first season’s flowers by cutting or pinching them off.  This will encourage runner formation and good root establishment. Pin or peg the runners to fill the row. Do not let plants root closer than 6″. Any runners that form after late August should be removed. The second season, the plants can be allowed to bear a full crop.

After June bearers finish fruiting, cut or mow the leaves to stimulate vigorous growth. Dig up and replant rooted runners to fill gaps in the rows. At this time, lightly fertilize the bed.

Day Neutral or Everbearers

Day neutral varieties should be planted 10″-18″ apart in rows spaced 30″-36″. Day neutral varieties will form matted beds. In the closer spacing, remove all runners throughout the season; in wider plantings, allow one runner between each plant. Remove the first blossoms to encourage root development. Flowers appearing after mid-June can be allowed to form fruit.

Fertilize day neutral varieties in late summer.

Diseases

• In most home gardens, the strawberry bed will need complete replanting every 3-5 years due to virus infection. The leaves can show dwarfing and cupping if virus infected. You will know it is time for a new bed when berry production declines. Some of the newer cultivars are more virus resistant and are longer lived, needing to be replanted less often. Always replant with certified virus-free crowns.
• Gray mold is a fungal disease that affects many plants including strawberries. Berries will turn fuzzy gray. Sanitation and raising the berries on mulch so they do not touch the soil are the best controls.
• Common leaf spot is another fungal disease common to strawberries. It can overwinter on old foliage and infect new leaves in spring. Mowing or cutting the foliage of June bearer varieties after harvest can help prevent and control the disease. Drip irrigation rather than overhead also helps prevent infection.

Pests

• Shallot and Strawberry aphids are common pests on strawberries, and can spread viruses to the plants, eventually causing them to decline. Avoid overfertilizing plants; lush foliage can attract aphids. If aphids appear, wash off with a strong jet of water or use horticultural soap.
• Slugs and snails can cause damage by feeding on both foliage and fruit. Remove boards, rocks, and tall grass and weeds near strawberry beds. Hand pick when possible, or use iron-phosphate baits around plants.
• Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) can be a problem. Adult flies lay their eggs in ripening fruit; the larvae hatch and eat their way around inside the berry. Spinosad and neem extract insecticides can provide some control.
• Cutworms are the larvae of a moth. They live just under the soil surface and emerge at night to feed on foliage, flowers, buds and fruit. Removing grass and weeds near the strawberry beds can help decrease their populations. For larger infestations, use Bacillius thuringiensis (Bt) to control. The larvae will need to feed on sprayed foliage for it to be effective, so repeat applications might be necessary.