How to grow strawberries

Prepare a weed-free site that gets 8 to 10 hours of strong sunlight a day. Well-drained soil with a pH around 6.0 to 6.2 is ideal.

To avoid verticillium wilt, don't plant in sites where raspberries, strawberries, or solanaceous plants (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc.) have grown before.

Early spring planting is customary in most areas. For warm winter regions (California, Florida, and the southeast), fall planting is recommended.

Now it is time to choose which type of strawberry you want. June bearing strawberries produce one large crop of fruit each growing season, typically in June.

Everbearing strawberries produce two to three harvests of fruit intermittently during the spring, summer and fall.

Space June bearers on raised beds with 18 to 24 inches between plants, in rows 3 to 4 feet apart.

Hills 10 to 18 inches apart, planted with single plants, are best for everbearers, and June bearers in hot, humid climates.

Provide 1 inch of water per week at the root zone.

Ripe berries appear about 30 days after bloom. Once the berry is fully red, they are ready to harvest. Pick every two to three days, or daily in very hot weather. Keep green caps attached.

To preserve flavor and shelf life, pick into a shallow, paper towel lined container, no more than three or four layers of berries deep. Refrigerate immediately after picking.