What do strawberries need when ripening?

18 years ago

Hi fellow veggie gardeners!

I just got back from a week at the beach and I see that the first of my strawberries are starting to ripen. This will be my first season to harvest strawberries and I'm wondering what I should (or should not) do for the next month or so while the strawberries are ripening. Should I continue to water and fertilize? Should I avoid overhead watering if possible? (I remember hearing some some talk about mold and rot problems at at a you-pick strawberry patch a couple years ago when the weather was wet.) Would it be useful to even go so far as to cover my small strawberry patch with plastic if it rains in order to (avoid mold) and just carefully water the roots so as to keep the foliage and fruit dry? I've already covered my patch with netting to keep the birds away, so I've got that base covered! ;)

Thanks for any suggestions,

Steve

Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

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Comments (3)

bcomplx1
18 years ago
Hi Neighbor,
Just picked my first ripe berry the other day. The first fruit of the season is so precious! Steady light moisture is great and helps to increase fruit size, but as you have astutely observed, watering wrong can be risky. Got a soaker hose? If you use it during the day, the watering will attract fewer slugs, which can claim an unfair share if you don't watch out. Might want to trap preventatively.

Sun brings out the best in strawberry flavor, so keep your fingers crossed for fair weather.

Final tip: pick in the morning when the fruits are cool, and put them in the fridge immediately.

The next big growth period for reproductive plant parts is late summer to fall, so most people don't fertilize June-bearers in summer. Just thin out runners, and sometimes mow high to interrupt leaf spot diseases. If everbearers produce heavily in early summer, they like a midsummer rest before picking up again in early fall.

Good luck! It's looking like a good year, eh?

Here is a link that might be useful: Controlling slugs organically
MrClint
18 years ago
Strawberries are pretty easy. Most folks tend to over think their requirements. Even moisture seems to work best -- which means don't let the soil get too soggy or too dry. Also, overhead watering has never been a problem for me in the ground or in pots. My advice is to not nip flowers or runners on new plants, just let 'em go crazy and reap the rewards. For fertilizer I top dress with compost whenever it's ready. Your mileage may vary.
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strawberryjohnjohn
18 years ago
don't fertilize between spring and the time you pick or you well get very soft berries. i found the best time to fertilize is right after renovation. renovation takes place right after you have picked your last berry. you take a lawn mower with a bagger and set ti at the highest setting and cut all the leaves off your plants taking as much care to not harm the crowns. than fertilize. strawberries set their fruit for next year in october/november. water as needed to keep lem moist. i overhead water with lake water and never had a problem. the biggest problem i have is with them darn moles!!! good luck JOHN