if a bed is kept going as a source of new plants, gardeners can adapt to keep the freezer full of strawberries. Mulching with plastic takes time and requires a drip irrigation system or soaker hose under the plastic. Growers also like plastic mulch because it keeps down weeds. Plastic laid over a raised bed about five to six weeks before it’s time to plant kills the weeds underneath before the plastic is cut for planting. Because the black plastic absorbs heat, it will warm the ground and cause the plants to bloom and fruit earlier. If they are in bloom when a frost threatens, growers can protect the plants with a frost blanket. Some farmers suggest planting strawberries in October so the plants have a chance to develop well before spring. In the spring, plants can be protected with a row cover in case of a late freeze if they are in bloom. Regular watering and fertilizing is important to grow big, healthy plants so that the heavy foliage hides the berries from birds. That’s a simple approach certainly worth a try. Plugs or transplants are used by some growers to start strawberry beds because it’s harder to get the depth right with bare-root plants. The soil depth on plugs or transplants guides determine how deeply to plant it. If the crown of the plant is too deep, it will rot. Having a little soil on the roots helps transplants survive, too. Corn is used to control aphids on some strawberry farms. When berries are planted in the field next to strawberries, the aphids go to the corn and stay off the strawberries. Strawberry plants soon will be for sale in garden centers throughout Alabama. Remember to water them regularly for good growth. Fall is an ideal time to plant strawberries, too, so transplant or create a new patch from this year’s runners in September and October. n
By Lois Chaplin
S
ince it’s just about strawberry planting time, here are a few tips from the pros on how to get the most from a strawberry patch. Many of the techniques used by larger farms are applicable at home, too. It’s important to note that strawberry plants are perennial and will spread to make a solid ground cover, or “mat.” These are sometimes called matted rows. Gardeners also may dig the new plants and rearrange everything to neat rows each spring or fall. Some farms set out strawberry plants in rows mulched with black plastic because yields are five times what they are if left alone to grow in matted rows. It’s labor intensive because the plastic has to be laid each year and the strawberries replanted. However,
_______________________________________ Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.
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NEIGHBORS • FEBRUARY 2012