Five tips for growing them
If you’re planting this spring, do it as soon as possible, Savio said. Here are her tips for a healthy crop of summer strawberries:
1
Coffee grounds, compost and manure Strawberries need airy, well-amended soil, so whether you’re planting in containers or beds, mix up the soil a good 6 to 8 inches deep, with a cup each of bagged steer manure, compost and coffee grounds for each plant. (Savio gets her grounds from coffee shops near her Pasadena home. “I’ve found them to be a tremendous boost to everything in my garden.”) Space plants about 9 inches apart and about 3 inches deep, so you’re covering the roots but not the crown or leaves.
2
Mulch with straw Cover the ground around the plants with clean straw, to help keep the soil moist and the fruit dry. The straw also deters slugs, snails and other pests who think strawberries are delicious too. If you’re using containers, try to keep the fruit dangling to keep it dry.
3
Companions, not competitors Strawberries do well with other plant companions such as lettuce, which starts dying back in the heat of summer, when strawberries start producing. Basil and other warm-season herbs are good companions too, but be sure you choose plants with similar water needs. Strawberries need regular water when they are getting established, too much water for herbs like rosemary and lavender that prefer life on the dry side.
4
Reduce water before har vest Commercial growers tend to pump their berries with water to make them large, Savio said, but it dilutes their flavor. For a more intense strawberry flavor, cut back on watering once the blossoms become little green berries. “Keep the soil moist so the plants keep growing, but if you pull back on the water, it helps the plant focus on ripening the fruit.”
5
Watch for runners! Strawberries don’t just produce fruit, they also send out runners in the fall that will produce new plants. If your strawberries are in containers, try to direct the runners inside the pot, or into soil in other prepared pots. The runners will take root, and after a month or two you can sever the ties that connect the baby plants to their mother. Nurture your strawberry babies, Savio said, because the mother plants stop producing a lot of fruit after a couple of years.