Strawberries are picky about the amount of sunlight they receive. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun each day to become plump, juicy and taste great.
The better your plant’s exposure during peak solar times (10 am-2 pm), the more fruit you’ll enjoy from them later on down the line.
Selecting and Preparing Your Strawberry Plantation Site
Picking the perfect spot for your strawberry plantation is not easy. There are many factors to consider, such as soil content, drainage, sunlight, and proximity to other plants.
Strawberry plants need well-drained soil that is high in nitrogen and organic matter. When choosing a location for your plant, make sure it has these qualities present in the soil before planting them. Suppose you have an existing garden plot or lawn currently growing on top of poor quality soil. In that case, you can amend it by adding compost or peat moss at least two months before planting strawberries to have enough time to break down into good organic material before being planted again.
Strawberry Plantation
Strawberries are a versatile, delicious plant that can be grown in many different ways. You’ll need to decide whether you want them near your house or on elevated ground. There’s lots of great information about how much space strawberries require, so make sure you follow these recommendations. Ideally, 15-18 inches between stalks should work for most varieties, though some will fare better when planted closer together, such as Fragaria ananassa hybrids with smaller fruit.
Northern gardeners usually transplant their plants into bigger pots before planting outdoors during springtime, while folks living south and west prefer fall/winter planting seasons instead. It’s essential to plant strawberries in the correct depth for good root growth. You’ll see that a bare-root plant has short, stocky stems with roots connecting at their crowns (tops). Dig out your hole large enough and make sure it is deep enough so these deep roots can spread themselves well into the dirt while still staying partially covered by soil above ground level where they’re planted. Otherwise, you may end up having trouble growing healthy plants because too much of what will become the uppermost parts would dry out or die if left exposed without any protection against sun damage.
Strawberries are best grown outdoors, but they can be successful in hanging baskets and other container plants. The key is to provide a balance between pollinators like bees for fruit production without relying too much on them.
Caring
When it comes time to take care of your strawberries, make sure you provide them with the right conditions for growth and fruiting. Keep an eye on when they need water but don’t overdo it.
If one plant starts showing signs that it’s ready, pick them at once so as not to waste any precious produce.
Harvesting
The best time to pick strawberries is when they’re ripe and fully colored. You can tell that a berry has been picked too soon if it hasn’t ripened all the way or if there’s no color at all on a leaf-topped strawberry (brown spots will indicate this).
For those who want to enjoy their fresh taste without sacrificing quality, pick your fruit early in the morning while it is cool enough for harvest but still warm at the same time.
Leave an inch long stem attached after removing stems; otherwise, berries quickly lose flavor due to bruising during shipping before reaching store shelves.
Final Word
If you’re interested in growing your own strawberries at home, it’s essential to understand how sunlight will affect their growth. Make sure that they are receiving full sun during the day for plump berries and great taste.
See more: Types of Strawberries | Do Grapes and Strawberries Go Together? | Do Kiwis and Strawberries Go Together? | Do Pears And Strawberries Go Together? | Do Strawberries and Lime Go Together?