July 11, 2023, 3:40 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Strawberry plants produce good fruit for only about two years. After that, you should plant new ones–whether purchased or from your own plants’ runners.
Was your strawberry harvest meager this year? Then your plants are likely over two years old and should be replaced with new ones. If you want to plant strawberries in the summer, timing is crucial.
When to Plant Strawberries in the Summer
Young strawberries should be planted by mid-August at the latest, so they can establish well before the onset of winter cold. This also allows the plants to set flowers for the next harvest in 2024, according to the Bavarian Garden Academy.
While strawberries can be planted throughout the gardening season, those available in spring often have few leaves and produce only a small amount of fruit in the first year, the Garden Academy notes.
Also of interest: Properly fertilizing strawberries for a bountiful harvest
The Right Location
The new plants should also be given a new location in the garden. Harmful pathogens may have accumulated in the soil at the old site, which could affect the young plants. Additionally, the soil is depleted. It should not be replanted with strawberries for at least four years.
The new location should be sunny and not too windy. Ideally, the soil is loose, deep, and rich in humus. Sandy soils can be improved with humus, and strawberry plants need to be well-watered in them. Soils where moisture accumulates are unsuitable, as they are more prone to root diseases.
Also of interest: The best strawberry varieties for gardens, balconies, and terraces
5 Essential Care Tips for Strawberries After Harvest
The Right Time to Plant Strawberries in Spring
How Should You Fertilize?
The soil should be mixed with compost before replanting. The academy experts recommend three to five liters per square meter. Additionally, lightly work about 35 grams of horn meal into the soil. The young strawberry plants need to be spaced 25 to 30 centimeters apart. If planting multiple rows, leave a gap of 40 to 70 centimeters between them.
Also of interest: Did you know that the strawberry is actually a nut?
Using Runners as an Alternative
If you already have strawberries in the ground, you’ll find runners on the plants throughout the summer–several leaves at a node, still attached to the mother plant by a notably long shoot. The Garden Academy advises choosing the first of these runners from vigorous, well-bearing mother plants. Many additional runners should be removed to prevent overburdening the main plant during fruit ripening.
More on this: Propagating strawberries–an overview of two methods
Often, the runners come into contact with the soil as they grow, settle next to the mother plant, and form roots. They can be cut off and temporarily placed in a container, according to the Garden Academy. The experts also advise against endlessly using runners from your own strawberry plants, as “the positive varietal traits can diminish” from generation to generation.
with material from dpa