Guide to Growing the Best Strawberries

One of our very favorite crops to grow is strawberries. They are the only thing I grow that never goes to waste and a fresh from the garden strawberry is simply heaven on earth.

Here is our guide to successfully growing beautiful, juicy berries in your own garden.

1. Choose the Right Variety

Not all strawberries behave the same way. Before you buy, decide how you want to harvest:

June-Bearing: These produce one massive crop over 2–3 weeks in early summer. Perfect if you want to make jam.
Ever-Bearing: These produce two to three smaller "flushes" of fruit throughout the summer.
Day-Neutral: These are the "marathon runners"—they produce a steady, modest supply of berries from June until the first frost.

2. Don't Bury the Crown

This is the most common mistake for beginners. The "crown" is the thick, woody part where the leaves emerge.

If you plant too deep: The crown will rot.
If you plant too shallow: The roots will dry out.
The Sweet Spot: The soil should be exactly at the midpoint of the crown.

3. Use "The Rule of Six"

Strawberries are sun-worshippers. They need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce the sugars that make them sweet. If they’re in the shade, you’ll get plenty of green leaves but very little (and very sour) fruit.

4. Mulch is Your Best Friend

There’s a reason they’re called strawberries. Tucking a layer of straw or pine needles around the plants does three things:

Keeps the fruit off the damp soil (preventing rot).
Suppresses weeds.
Retains moisture so the shallow roots don't thirst to death.

5. Pinch Off the First Blooms

This is the hardest part for any new gardener, but it pays off. For the first few weeks after planting, pinch off any flowers that appear. This forces the plant to put its energy into building a strong root system and healthy leaves first. A stronger plant this month means way more berries next month (or next year).

Pro-Tip: Strawberries have very shallow roots, so they prefer frequent, light watering rather than one big soak once a week.

6. Aim for Slightly Acidic Soil

Strawberries are "acid-loving" plants that perform best when the soil pH is between 5.5 and 6.5.

The Problem: If the soil is too alkaline (high pH), the plants can't "eat" the nutrients they need, often resulting in yellow leaves and tiny fruit.

The Fix: Before planting, mix in organic matter like peat moss, pine needles, or composted oak leaves, or use a granular sulfur amendment to gently nudge the acidity into that sweet spot.

Happy Growing!
Jen & Michael

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