Matted Row System

The matted row system of growing strawberries is decades old. It was developed after the modern Garden Strawberry became the dominant strawberry grown (see the Strawberry Plant reference page for more details). Growing strawberries in the matted row system has multiple benefits. Chief among them is increased yields over all but the modern commercial methods.

By using the matted row, gardeners and some commercial growers can take advantage of the unique characteristics of strawberry plants in order to get the most out of their land, out of their effort, and for their taste buds. This post is an introductory article to the matted row system.

How Growing Matted Row System Strawberry Plants Works

The matted row system is an old method of growing strawberries that has been used with great success by a host of commercial and Pick-Your-Own strawberry farms. It is also commonly used in regions that have a colder climate. In this strawberry production method, strawberry plants are set out on cultivated and fertile bare land at regularly spaced intervals within regularly spaced rows. This initial planting is allowed to grow, send forth intertwining strawberry runners, and establish those daughter plants within the row. This interlaced and crisscrossed network of runners creates a matted tangle of strawberry plants, hence the name “matted row.”

The matted row system takes a full year (12 months) before a crop is harvested. This is why the newer plasticulture methods have become popular as they make possible a harvest in as little as 7 to 8 months after planting. The cost of purchasing strawberry plants, however, is usually much lower than with newer methods. The matted row system allows the strawberry plants to multiply themselves into the rows to maximize production. Each planted strawberry plant will multiply its production by sending out and establishing daughter plants that will produce its own strawberries for harvest the following spring. Further reducing planting costs is that fact that the matted row strawberry system makes the most of the perennial nature of strawberry plants. Each matted row is allowed to produce until the plants lose their productive ability, which is usually between 2 and 4 years.

One of the drawbacks of the matted row system is that the strawberries require tending all year long. The strawberry renovation process must be done each year after harvest, and, of course, the strawberries have to be harvested by hand. However, if growing your own strawberries, this last chore can be quite pleasurable as those fresh strawberries are sampled to make the work easier!

Matted Row System Strawberry Varieties

There are a few different types of strawberry plants that are commercially available. Day-neutral and Everbearing strawberry plants are best grown in systems other than the matted row system. The matted row is most appropriate for growing June-bearing strawberry varieties (for a detailed explanation of the differences, see the Strawberry Varieties reference page). Virtually any June-bearing strawberry cultivar will do well in matted rows. Some of the more popular varieties for planting in matted rows are: Allstar, Delmarvel, Earliglow, Honeoye, and Jewel. To find a supplier of the variety for which you are looking, see our directory of suppliers who sell online and offer Strawberry Plants for Sale.

Details of Growing Matted Row Strawberries

It takes 12 full months after planting strawberries in the matted row system to see a full crop ready to be harvested. But, since the rows will usually produce for multiple years, the initial time sacrifice can be recuperated in subsequent years. The details of spacing of both rows and plants can be found by following the link below in the conclusion. Typically, one can expect between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds of strawberries to be produced per acre of land planted with strawberry plants using the matted row system. To determine the appropriate number of strawberry plants to purchase per acre of land to be planted based on spacing, see the table on this post: strawberry plants per acre.

The Matted Row System: Conclusion

Using matted rows is likely the best option for home growers and hobby gardeners. It minimizes annual costs and maximizes garden space. The matted row can also be adapted for square foot gardens by allowing the matted row to become a matted square, usually planting one strawberry plant per square foot in the initial planting and allowing the runners to populate and fill the rest of the 4×4 square. For much more guidance on the matted row system, including helpful diagrams, visit the Growing Strawberries reference page. There you can also find other systems better suited to the other types of strawberry plants.

Good luck! Feel free to come back and share your experiences with growing strawberries with the matted row system by using the comments feature below.