Strawberry Fields Forever
By CHRIS WINSLOWDid you know that the strawberry – one of the most sought after and delicious foods in the world – can be grown in the gardens of Hays County? And luckily for us, they’re easy to grow.
By far the best choice for us is the Junebearer strawberry.
Gardeners like to plant their Junebearers at this time of year, and these will produce fruit throughout the spring.
You can often start picking berries as early as February, and if the spring is cool, expect fresh berries all the way until the end of June.
As the days begin to get long, these Junebearers will send out runners (stolons) that will produce new plants. When the days get short again, they will flower.
Some folks have tried Everbearing strawberries. They bloom later in the year, and I have found that our summers are often just too brutal for any great success.
The most important tip I can pass on to fellow Hays County gardeners? Strawberries must have well drained soil.
A good garden mixture to aim for is 50 percent sand mixed with rich compost and topsoil. If your drainage is poor, plant them in raised beds.
Another idea is to put them in hanging baskets and strawberry pots. This allows you to move them into shadier and cooler spots as the mercury starts to rise in the summer months.
When growing them in pots, use a good soilless potting mix such as Metro, Sunshine or Miracle-Gro. These offer both nutrients and drainage, so you won’t have to mix anything else into the soil.
Mulching is another top priority. If you mulch generously around the plants, you’ll help to keep those roots warm in the winter, and cooler in the summer… just the way they like it.
Happy strawberry gardening (and Thanksgiving) everyone!
Mulch For Strawberries - News
If you mulch generously around the plants, you'll help to keep those roots warm in the winter, and cooler in the summer… just the way they like it. If you have a question, send it via email to: iathyme@yahoo.com. (Please put 'Ask Chris Winslow' in the
A: Your strawberries will survive winters in central Mississippi with little care, but here's what you can do to be sure they keep growing. Right now, mulch around each plant and over the surface of the pots' soil, group them together in a sunny spot,
These will not effectively moisten the soil around plant roots. It is still too early to apply winter mulch to tender plants like roses, strawberries, mums and other tender perennials. In most years, mulch can be applied around Thanksgiving.
Winter mulches are applied to plants, such as strawberries and chrysanthemums, in fall to prevent damage caused by extreme cold or repeated freezing and thawing of the soil during the winter months. Leaves are a poor winter mulch for strawberries and
Black polyethylene mulch often is used to cover the raised mounds. Strawberries also grow well in pots, barrels and other containers. Make sure you plant the plants so the center crown — the spot where the leaves come out — is at the surface,
How to Grow Garden Strawberries | My Home Creation
Using the right cultivation and care methods when you’re growing strawberries at home will encourage plants to produce healthy fruit that can be used in some of your favorite dishes such as preserves and pies. Fresh strawberries can also be frozen and stored until a later date. Listed below are a few simple tips to help you grow healthier garden strawberries.
For the best results, choose certified disease-free plants. Strawberries should be planted in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Choose a planting location that’s well-drained and gets six to eight hours of full sunlight each day. Strawberries that are planted too far in the ground won’t do well; they should be planted with the crown just above ground-level. Also, fertilize the soil with a 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet.
Cover the area around your planted strawberries with straw mulch. This helps keep the soil cool, prevent weed growth, and retain moisture. Also, give your garden strawberries at least an inch of water every week. Garden strawberry runners should be removed to encourage strawberry plants to grow succulent berries.
To prevent pests such as sap beetles, slugs, weevils, birds and aphids from destroying your strawberry garden, remove overripe berries; keep weeds out of your garden; and remove straw mulch after harvest. Also, use pesticides where appropriate and cover your plants with netting.
If garden strawberries are cultivated and cared for properly, they can produce a healthy, bountiful harvest for you to enjoy.
When choosing the garden furniture that you want in your garden or on your patio, you should choose that which exemplify your personality and taste. It can be an extension of the style of furniture inside your home, or it can be something else entirely. Think of the garden and patio as a completely new “room” that you can decorate. Energy is something we must utilize in order to have a better way of life.
I know straw is great for strawberries...but can I use straw instead of mulch to surround my herbs a 
Proper Mulch for Strawberries | via @