Happy Planting! Strawberry plants will grow well in many different soil types; we recommend that the soil has good drainage. For annuals, mound or hill up rows of soil about 6" or 8" tall, spacing the rows about 2' apart. Garden strawberry plants prefer soil that's rich and loamy with a pH between 5.8 to 6.2 for maximum production. We recommend at least 5% of the soil be composted with peat moss or compost. In Alabama, the June bearing plants thrive best. Pin 2K. August - September: Pull beds and lay plastic. Plant the strawberries so that the roots are covered in soil but the crown is exposed to fresh air and light. Using a hoe, form raised rows in the garden spaced about 4' apart. They grow in buckets, barrels, front lawns and backyards, in intimate groupings or spreading strawberry fields. Based on frost dates and planting … April through July is peak strawberry season. Take soil samples to determine lime and fertilization requirements for your planting site. For shadier spots, try planting Alpine strawberries (available from vegetable seed catalogs and online nurseries), which take more patience but ultimately produce delicious fruit. Reddit 20. Strawberries won't tolerate weed competition and raised beds also help keep grasses from sneaking into the planting area. Planting calendars for places in Alabama. With proper care, strawberry beds can produce good crops for three to five years. Strawberries require 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, so water the planting if rainfall is not sufficient. Allow at least 3 weeks from fumigation to planting. Learning Download: Growing in Alabama Alabama Last & First Frost Dates. Strawberry lovers are fortunate that these sweet treats can grow almost anywhere in the nation, cold climates and hot. For juicy strawberries, provide 1 to 2 inches of water per week. This guide is a state-by-state list of strawberry varieties that do well in each state. The harvest season begins in South Alabama in March and is completed in North Alabama in early June. This excludes only the very hottest zones, found in Puerto Rico, and the coolest, mostly in the northern part of Alaska. While some cultivars are able to adapt to many environments, others have been bred to be highly productive in a relatively narrow climate range. Spread the roots out over the mound. Plant 20cm apart in slightly raised rows (40cm … Remove the mulch in the spring. Strawberries grow easily in containers as small as 10-12 inches in diameter; Begin with seeds, or certified disease-free plants; Leave enough room for the roots to spread throughout the soil; Clay and metal pots will conduct more heat whereas synthetic and light-colored pots keep roots nice and cool in temperature; When to Plant . Proper planting depth is critical when setting strawberry plants. Highbush berries do well in raised gardens in South Alabama. If you have everbearing strawberry plants, you may want to plant them individually in mounded hills. Why? Onikia N. Brown, Oleane Carden Zenoble Free to View, Download, or Print. If your plant makes too many strawberries, use them to make jam, preserves, or even freeze them for smoothies and cocktails! May - June: Order Plants. Set the strawberries about 12" apart down the length of each mounded row. In early spring, dig small holes every 24" in the rows. Water . Blueberries, peaches, muscadines, strawberries, melons, veggies, orchards. If you already have a strawberry patch, the plants will start throwing out runners in autumn. #5 Plant the Seeds in the Container. Once the growing season is over, cut the foliage back to 1 inch. Another good addition is granular fertilizer. Work a generous amount of compost into the garden bed before planting. Aside from destruction from rats, mice, squirrels, slugs, birds, and just about every other fruit-loving pest you can think of, when you grow strawberries in the ground, you’ve got limited control of water and soil quality. These crops can grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. In their first year of planting, the berry plants will certainly try to set fruit, but you should be firm and disabuse them of this idea. CHOOSE A CONTAINER FOR THEM Give your plants enough room to grow. Cultivation Blueberries need full sun to produce prolifically and set the best quality fruit. Make sure to keep the soil moist at all times, and that your plant gets plenty of sunlight. June-bearing strawberries are planted 18 to 24 inches apart in rows spaced 4 feet apart. Alabama is in 7, 8 and 9 USDA plant hardiness zones. Email. Fall is a good time to plant strawberries for spring production. Strawberries are popular and rewarding plants to grow in the domestic environment, be it for consumption or exhibition purposes, almost anywhere in the world. meaning the strawberry plant doesn’t need deep soil to grow in. This distance also leaves plenty of room for the runners (horizontal stems). Obtain good, virus-free runners from a reliable nursery in early autumn. Each plant needs to be put in a hole about 6 inches deep and wide enough to accommodate its root system so that the plant's crown -- where the foliage emerges -- is at the level of the surrounding soil's surface. In Northern Alabama, hardier highbush blueberry varieties may be a better choice. Plant in full sun or dappled shade, and in somewhat sandy soil. Berry season is in full swing this time of year, which means picking strawberries in Alabama is the perfect day trip your taste buds will enjoy. Strawberry plants that are to be treated as annuals are planted closer together than those that are left to grow as perennials. Just a short half hour drive from Huntsville, they are our favorite place to go strawberry picking with the kids. July - August: Prepare land and apply recommended lime and fertilizer. Pages / Length: 6 Publication Date: 06/17/2013. But planting strawberries at ground level is like ringing the dinner bell for every pest in a 5-mile radius. Plant the strawberries so their roots are just buried, about 30-45cm apart, then firm the soil around them. Water well for the first few weeks. 5 1 vote. This will allow June and spring-bearing plants enough space to send out “daughters,” or runners. Strawberry season only lasts three to four weeks, so it’s crucial that you know not only how to harvest a strawberry plant, but also when strawberry harvest time begins so that none of them go to waste. Strawberries grow best in sunny spots with fertile, well-drained soil. Strawberries are best eaten fresh, frozen or made into a preserve. And don't forget to control the number one headache — weeds. Strawberries also like organic matter (manure, compost, or peat moss) that has a ph in the 6.5 range. Ten or more varieties of strawberries are grown commercially throughout Alabama. Our free planting guide calculates the best dates for sowing seeds indoors and outdoors, and for transplanting seedlings to the garden—all customized to your location. Consequently, any given strawberry plant variety is likely to do better in one specific region than other regions. Strawberries established during September and October have a much higher yield the next year than strawberries planted during the spring months, according to the University of Alabama. You will be limited in variety availability but for homeowners I like Festival, Camarosa and Camino Real if you have an option. If the soil does not drain well then the plants should be planted on raised beds. Your strawberry plants need to be spaced at least 2 ft apart, so only plant 1 or 2 plants per container. Step 3 use a trowel to dig a small hole. Planting strawberries in rows requires about 3 to 4 feet (about one meter) between rows. If buried deep, the plant will rot. Fill the container with a potting mix and make a small mound in the middle. 2. The type of strawberry determines plant spacing. There's plenty of farms throughout the state that will provide the kick you need, but if you're looking for a big haul, then a visit to Penton Farms is the ideal spot. Find the best dates for planting and transplanting vegetables and fruit! Strawberries either produce all at once (June Bearing) or small continuous harvest throughout summer (Everbearing). Strawberries are also suited to growing in pots and hanging baskets. Many of the local nurseries, order strawberry plants for resale. Strawberries are perennials that need rich soil with lots of organic matter and a slightly acidic pH (between 5.5 and 6.5). Alternatively they can be planted in pots or … These take root in the soil around the parent plant. If you get plants before you are ready to plant, put them in your refrigerator. MORE LIKE GROWING STRAWBERRIES: Growing blueberries. Share 16. Strawberries are easy to grow and produce abundant harvest. If you plant in a garden or raised bed, be sure to space the strawberries at least 18 inches apart. Alabama farm directory for fresh produce directly sold via u-pick, farm stand, farm store. Plant the Strawberries . Mulch over the plants with 4 inches worth of straw, pine needles or another type of organic material. Article Rating. Strawberry plants are shipped in from more moderate climates such as California and Canada. Strawberry Planting Calendar by Triple J Nursery. Remember, these plants like to spread out as they grow, so give them plenty of room. In addition to Rabbiteye, Brightwell, Premier, Climax and Powderblue are good varieties to plant in Alabama gardens. Work in compost, rotted manure and some peat moss at planting time. Mulching, hand pulling, hoeing and tilling are the best ways to control weeds in a small planting, although a few herbicides are available for use on strawberries. Cut and transplant them into a new bed. The best time to plant is in late summer or spring. There are a few different types of strawberry plants — spring bearing, June bearing and everbearing. Your strawberry plant will continue to bear fruit as long as it is the everbearing kind. Alabama Strawberries. Strawberries thrive in containers, raised beds and in-ground gardens, but they need enough space for their root systems to grow deep and strong. Use deep pots at least 15cm wide and plant one strawberry per pot. Tweet. Planning Calendar for Strawberry Production. To harvest: Strawberries are ready to harvest as soon as they turn red. 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