Tips for Growing Strawberries

There aren't very many things that are much better than crouching down to pluck a fat, juicy strawberry straight from the plant, giving it a wipe and popping it into your mouth. For those who have grown their own strawberries in the past, there's really no comparison to your own fresh berries and those you buy in the shop: home grown wins every time.

One of the great things about strawberry plants is that they're not too difficult to plant, grow and maintain - all they need is a little time and attention and you'll be able to enjoy a great yield of delicious, juicy strawberries that can be used in a variety of things, from baking to jam-making to simply piling into a plate and munching one at a time.

Strawberries can be treated as two different types of plant - annuals and perennials. Annuals are plants you must refresh every year and perennials are ones you plant and leave to flourish by themselves as the years go by. For the latter, most gardeners will place their strawberries into the ground. If you'd prefer to have annual plants that you replant each year, however, you can plant them in containers.

When it comes to soil, you're best off with sandy loamy soil that has good drainage. If you're planting perennials, then it's also best to add compost while you can as you won't be able to do so again for another few years. While planting, ensure each individual plant is at least eighteen inches clear of the next, and you can place each line in rows that are about a foot part to ensure they have enough space to grow and spread out.

You should plant your strawberries in the spring as soon as the soil is ready to receive them. Be patient, however, and don't plant them too early - you don't want them to die in colder temperatures. As you place each plant in the ground, the crown should be at soil level so the leaves can make the most of the sun. Once your patch is planted, mulch the area by placing s omething like straw around the base of the plants. This will regulate the soil temperature and stop the fruit from touching the ground as it grows.

Water your strawberries once or twice a week if it doesn't rain - and watch as the fruit grows! If your garden or allotment is in danger of birds and bunnies, don't forget to net your plants to protect them and then it'll only be you who gets to enjoy the delicious fruit of your labels. If you are indeed planting them as perennials, don't worry about next year's batch - the fruit seeds from this one will keep the crop going!