How to Plant Strawberries
Polly Phillips
Health Educator
Fall is the perfect season to plant strawberries. Join our expert health educator as she gives you the basics of planting strawberries, along with a few tips and tricks. While we can enjoy strawberries year-round in North Carolina grocery stores, there is nothing like a freshly-picked strawberry. Save this video because when you harvest in the spring, try making a homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette that pairs perfectly with a kale, feta, and almond salad.
Planting seasons may vary depending on your planting zone. Because the Poe Center is located in central North Carolina, we plant in Zone 8a. To find your planting zone, go to https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
You can build core memories picking strawberries with your children at pick-your-own farms, but did you ever consider growing your own plants? Here in the Poe Center’s GrowWELL Garden we love to garden strawberries. The garden becomes a place of learning and active play when little gardeners take part in a garden scavenger hunt to find strawberries amongst the foliage. Growing your own food helps teach the wonders of freshly-grown produce. Homegrown strawberries can come in funky shapes and sizes! Strawberry plants can last three to five years, or longer, depending on the variety. They also take more than one year to produce fruit, so be patient! Strawberries are on their way.
How to Get Started Planting Strawberries
Choose a Method
To plant from seed, crown, or plug? That is the question.
Seeds
Crown
Plug
We suggest planting strawberries from a plug or crown. Planting from seed can be difficult and unpredictable, which leads many gardeners to plant plugs.
Crown: A dormant, bare-rooted plant that has no soil on the root. Crowns are more cost effective-than plugs, but have a lower survival rate. Plug: An established plant with grown-out roots, sold in soil. Plugs are easier to plant than crowns, but cost more.
Plug: An established plant with grown-out roots sold in soil. Plugs have a higher survival rate, but also cost more.
We chose to plant plugs at the Poe Center.
Choose a Variety
According to the NC State Cooperative Extension, the best strawberry varieties for North Carolina include Chandler, Camarosa, Festival, and Sweet Charlie.
Plant a Plug
First, choose a well-draining large pot and fill it with nutrient-rich soil. Second, dig a hole deep enough to cover the crown of the plant, this is where the roots meet the stems. When planting more than one, dig the holes 10-16 inches apart to make room for the runners, also called the daughter plants. Cover with a layer of leaves, woodchips, or straw to insulate the soil over the wintertime.Strawberry plants do need to be covered during the winter for their protection. Placing them in full sun can help them retain heat over the winter months.
We chose to plant plugs at the Poe Center.
Watch them Grow
After you plant it is time to watch your strawberry plants grow. Make sure they are in a sunny spot year-round. The strawberry plant loves the heat. Try planting your strawberries in a portable pot if you move frequently, or have limited space. A portable pot also can help you ensure you move the pot to the sunniest place available.
Around the springtime you should see buds of white flowers begin to bloom. Strawberry fruit is soon to follow once you begin to see flower buds. The first year of the strawberry plant’s life, it may not bear much fruit, but do not fret, by the second or third year it will be producing plenty of fruit to enjoy.
Garden Strawberry Vinaigrette
Servings: 8
Equipment: cutting board, measuring cups, spatula, knife, food processor, jar
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, greens removed
- 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions:
- Put strawberries, red wine vinegar, honey, lime juice, olive oil, and salt into a food processor.
- Blend ingredients together until smooth. Scrape down the walls of the food processor to ensure everything is blended.
- Pour into a jar. Keep in the fridge for up to four to seven days.
Strawberry-Kale Salad
Servings: 4
Equipment: Large bowl, serving spoons
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of kale leaves
- 1 Tablespoon of olive oil
- 1/2 – 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- 1/4 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles
Instructions:
- Massage kale leaves with olive oil.
- Mix together kale, strawberries, almonds, and feta.
- Top with the Garden Strawberry Vinaigrette. Enjoy!
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