One of the plants that any would be gardener should grow, is of course the humble strawberry. These plants make any house a home and after you’ve harvested some, you’re on your way to making some delicious home-made ice cream. What’s not to enjoy?
Strawberries are a small and versatile plant, perfect for the beginners. There are many ways to plant strawberries, you can grow them in an allotment or a small space in your garden (provided that the earth is good), in a planter or if you’re started with a small plant, you can put it straight into a plant pot and keep it in your windowsill.
The first important thing to remember is that strawberries come in many varieties, whether you choose to sow seeds or pot a fully fledged plant. The most popular types of strawberry are Honeoye, Earliglow and Allstar, which all bloom in mid-June. When looking at types of strawberries one must always consider what time of year they will be ready to harvest. The more experienced gardeners may choose to plant several kinds of strawberries and work around the calendar year, but many strawberry growers tend to stick to one kind and therefore only work around half of the year.
A popular way of planting strawberries is to go for the seeds. You can put them in planters or in your garden. You can purchase seeds and planters from your local garden centre. Planters that are about as wide as a door frame are the best for growing strawberries because there is enough room for them to grow without being too crowded.
The first thing you need to do is fill your planter with soil and make three small holes in the soil, about a hands width apart. The outer two holes can be closer to the edge but the middle hole should be equidistant from the others. You should plant about three seeds in each hole and if you are planting in your garden or allotment, the same rule applies but you can make more holes depending on how much space you have. Lastly, cover the seeds with a little soil, but don’t press down too hard so the seeds can still breathe.
Now you must make sure to water your strawberries daily. Make sure that the soil is never dry but make sure not to over-water, you will be able to tell when the soil is too moist in a planter because the water will leak out of the bottom. In your garden it is harder to tell but a rule of thumb is to water enough that you can easily slide your finger into the soil.
If you’re using a planter, a neat trick is to cover it in cling film, as this will keep them moist while they germinate. Once you can see the green part growing, you can take the cling film off. This shouldn’t take more than a week or two.
Keep an eye on your seedlings as they grow, making sure they get plenty of sunlight and water. if you keep them inside your house, place them on a windowsill that faces south or east if possible. This way, they will face the rising sun.
Good luck planting your strawberries!
by Zaenab Younus