Strawberries!

The garden that we inherited at our new home left a little to be desired, and we have been working hard all spring to fix things up. We have pulled, planted, shaped and re-shaped, and things are starting to come together now, ready for the next project.

One gem of the garden that we haven't touched, however, is the strawberry patch. It looked a bit sad and limp in March, but we added about three inches of leaf mulch mixed with compost, weeded and watered, and oh my goodness this is the best strawberry patch that I have ever cared for.

For about two weeks now we've been enjoying fresh strawberries, and today I believe this little patch is at its peak.

This morning my youngest daughter and I picked a good-sized bowl full of sweet, juicy, bright red berries, just enough for the five of us to have a great dessert tonight. And by the looks of it, there will be many more to come within the next week or two.

Now, this patch is quite small, just about four feet by eight feet in total, but we are definitely going to continue to increase its size. This is simple to do, especially because the plant does a lot of the work for you by sending out runners that then take root in the adjacent soil. Older plants can also be revived by splitting. You can just dig out the plant, shake off the excess soil, and then pull the stems apart and replant in moist, rich, well-draining soil.

The time spent caring for these strawberries is so minimal compared to the enjoyment of eating them. Strawberries like a lot of sun, well-drained soil, a mulch of compost, and ample water to produce juicy berries.

Even a very small garden can handle a patch of berries, and there are many ways to fit it in.

Here are a few ideas:
-as a groundcover in front of shrubs and perennials
-in raised beds in traditional vegetable gardens, planted in rows
-in pots on patios and balconies

There are many different types of strawberries, all under the genus Fragaria. Your local nursery will likely have a good selection of berries, June-bearing, day-neutral and ever-bearing. June-bearing strawberries will produce a large crop in June, and often have the largest berries. Day neutral plants will produce a smaller crop throughout the summer season, and ever-bearing will produce two or three crops in spring, summer and early fall. I have grown both types, and there are advantages to each. The June-bearing type is great for jams and pies because of the larger crop, but it is nice to pick and eat over the summer with the ever-bearing and day-neutral crops. The perfect combination would be a bit of each.

There are also a couple of species of native strawberries: Fragaria chiloensis (Beach Strawberry) and Fragaria vesca (Woodland Strawberry). I have found that the Woodland strawberry is a much better producer, with tiny, sweet berries. The Beach strawberry, however, makes a great, glossy mat of evergreen foliage that can cover an empty area in the garden quite quickly.

Whatever your space or chosen type, strawberries are an easy and very satisfying crop to grow. Just ask my daughter.