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Florida Gardening

How do strawberries grow?

14 years ago

I've been lucky enough to snag about 8 strawberry plants at the big box stores (would love more) and want to know how these grow. I've got some in containers and some in the ground. The ones in the containers have "trailers" hanging down the side. Should I tuck those back into the pot or are they supposed to do that? Also, once they fruit should I keep them again for the following year? I mean are they like blackberry plants that produce each year or do I need to buy new plants each year?

TIA

Julia

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Comments (5)

garyfla_gw
14 years ago
Hi
IME in zone 10 I had the best luck as a winter crop. Using June bearers rather than everbearing with the best in Jan Feb. Always better in containers The everbearers tended to make offsets rather than fruit. Have never had any cultivar make it through a 10 summer. They particularly HATE warm nights.
UFlorida has extensive info on culture as well as cultivars for the various zones.
What i found most productive was go to the U pick farms and eat as many as possible and then pay for the few in the basket lol. Had a bumper crop EVERY year lol good luck!! gary
jwahlton
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Gary. Thanks for your reply. Since I'm so new to this, I don't know what some of your terms mean. What are everbearers and cultivars? How do I know what I have? So those offshoots do not do anything? Thanks again!

Julia
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Ayala: I can't get your link to work, but planting strawberries two inches apart in your hanging baskets would result in serious overcrowding, which would lead to very poor berry yield. Three or possibly four plants in a 16 inch container is plenty. Strawberry plants will become quite large, and will fill up the basket in good growing conditions. I don't quite understand your second question about transplanting. Do you have strawberry pots with pockets for planting on the sides? If so put in one plant per pocket, with a couple of plants at the top. If the baskets are open and flat at the top (no side pockets), fill the baskets with soil then put in 8-10 plants. Thin them to three or four when they begin to grow up. You may have some losses, so it's a good idea to begin with a few extras. Obviously, putting in plants before filling with soil would bury the plants, which would kill them. You won't have to worry about transplanting for a while. Strawberry seeds can be a little difficult and slow to germinate. Wait until the seedlings are strong, healthy, and about two inches tall before transplanting from your seedbed to their final locations in the hanging baskets. If you can provide an environment warm and humid enough to germinate seeds, you could seed directly into the baskets and avoid transplanting entirely. Just make sure that if you do, you thin the plants to three or four in each basket to avoid overcrowding. I can't avoid the feeling that there is something you are not quite telling us about your hanging baskets, and your transplanting plans. The better your description, the more helpful the answers to your questions will be. I understand the difficulty if English is not your native language, but give it a try. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
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Hi You might check out the U. of florida wesite. Since strawberries are a temperate plant they require a very cool rest period. Tough to provide for sure . IME the best approach was to use june bearers started about now the best crop during winter. The everbearers tend to make offsets rather than fruit. When the heat and humidity set in give up and replant during fall. The site provides a lot of info on methods and management best of all particular cultivars for the various zones. It can certainly be done but limited to the winter months. I've nevr had any variety that would make it through summer in 10. good luck!!! gary
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happy_girl
14 years ago
Julia, the offshoots are new plants. Place a pot with good soil along side the original container & place the offshoot on top of the soil. Use something, maybe a U shaped piece of wire to pin this new plantlet in place & keep it watered along with the original. It will root & can be separated from the original.
an_ill-mannered_ache
14 years ago
i ordered 50 of them back a couple years ago--great plants out of colorado, already had their chill and were ready to produce... truth is, even with 50 plants i never had more than a handful a day... i guess i'm sayin' adjust your expectations... i agree with gary... you-pick is the way to go.
garyfla_gw
14 years ago
Hi
Sorry thought everybody knew those terms.lol Since strawberries are such a valuable crop like tomatoes they are produced in many climate zones and different types do better in different locations. A "Cultivar" is usually a named variety which has better characteristics for a particular area. "Everbearers" are those that produce fruit for long periods of time. . "June Bearers are types that produce in the spring only.. SB are temperate plants requiring a cold rest period so in Florida they are grown in reverse. During winter. Everbearers tend to produce offsets sacrificing fruit production so you get lots of plants very little fruit. Since florida has at least 5 zones different types do better so different cultivars are used .
In 10 for example I used "June bearers" though the season is short they produce 10 x as much , But exhaust themselves natually. But that's fine anyway because they can't tolerate warm nights.. While it MAY be possible to grow them in a bed maybe in 7/8 not in 9/10. Certainly not in my experience. All eventually croaked in the heat lol.
Since SB are commercially produced in florida there is much info available on methods. Check out the lists of which type produced the most fruit in the various areas.
The box stores are a poor source for starts mainly because they usually carry everbears.With names you'll be able to keep an eye out for appropriate ones. Again the U. F will give you names of types that produced well in your area.culture choices and disease /insect control.
Don't expect too much . Even in ideal situations 1 pint per plant per season is considered Excellant!!
Was hoping someone with Bed growing methods would chime in. I don't believe it's possible anywhere in florida.??? Of course the great advantage here though the season and production are limited it's in the dead of winter.!!! How cool is that ?? What tastes better than a fresh strawberry?? Okay maybe a vine ripened tomato?? gary

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