By Tarishi Shrivastava
May 12, 2024
Strawberries are a delicious and versatile fruit that can be grown successfully in small spaces. Follow these guidelines for planting, caring for, and harvesting strawberries in your kitchen garden.
Choose a sunny spot. Strawberries thrive in full sun, ideally 8 hours per day.
Prepare the soil. Strawberries prefer slightly acidic, well-drained soil enriched with compost or manure.
Select June-bearing varieties. For best fruit production, look for June-bearing strawberries which bear one big crop per season.
Get strawberry crowns or bare root plants in the ground in early spring or fall. Avoid summer planting.
Space plants 12-15 inches apart. Allow adequate room between plants for runners to spread.
Use row covers. Protect plants from birds and frost with floating row covers.
Water regularly, use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to keep foliage dry.
Fertilize monthly. Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer to encourage growth and fruit production.
Remove runners. Keep only a few daughter plants per season to maintain vigor.
Harvest ripe berries. Pick berries when fully red, leaving caps attached.