The goal here at Strawberry Plants .org is to spread the passion for strawberries far and wide. The vision is to see the number of home gardeners growing strawberries increase, to see the number of people appreciating strawberry recipes including this remarkable culinary berry increase, and to see the number of folks benefiting from the many healthful qualities of strawberries rise exponentially.
Because of the love for all things strawberry that abounds here, and the dedication to spread the joy, I do my best to answer questions from sincere folks. Answering questions about strawberries helps strawberry growers grow in confidence. So, this site is a place where you can come for strawberry-related help. I do my best to answer all legitimate questions, but sometimes it takes me a while to respond. So, previous questions that have been asked and answered (as well as future questions and answers) are going to be provided here (and added as they are asked in the future).
So, before submitting a new question, briefly check the previously answered questions to see if your concern has been addressed. Also, don’t forget that this site has a search function. Just type a few words related to your question in the box at the top right of this page, and see if you can find the answer to your question that way.
In order to facilitate the archiving of questions, each question is placed in a category. The first table below contains the categories. Each link within the category will take you to another table where the individual questions are. Clicking on each question will take you to a page where that question is asked and the strawberry answers are given. Without further ado, let the questions begin…
Strawberry Questions & Answers: Categories
Questions About Growing Strawberries
Questions About the Strawberry Plant
Questions About Buying Strawberry Plants
| Are Bare Root Strawberries or Strawberry Plant Plugs Better? | Please, Friend, Don't Buy Strawberry Plants on eBay! |
Questions About Strawberry Varieties
| German Strawberry Varieties? | San Andreas Strawberries? |
Other Questions About Strawberry Plants or Strawberries
| Strawberry Serving? | How to Store Strawberries? |
| How Fast Do Strawberries Mold? | Moving Strawberry Plants? |
| Do Deer Eat Strawberries? |
Lundiga Novak
Hey there!
I have a Lettuce Grow tower in which I have “planted” Mara du Boise berries. It’s been a few weeks. I quickly got a few flowers on a few of them (18 planted). I did the q tip pollination thing and looks like a few berries formed, yet the flower next to these died. I have struggled with the info on EC. Generally it says it should be no higher than 1000 (or 1 if you do the math conversion) and others say up to 1200. That’s question one. I put two plants in the hydroponic system (different than this lettuce grow aeroponic) and I have runners like crazy but no flowers.
So, looking/hoping for guidance with;
1. Any tips for the Lettuce Grow aeroponic system. Should the EC be 1000 or what precisely?
2. Any secrets with this method? It has the lights built right into the system. I just feel like the plants are struggling, but that might have been that initially the EC was way too high.
3 the other hydroponic system. Cut and get the runners going (doing that shortly since the little nubs have what look like roots wanting to come out) but why no flowers or fruit? The plants look super amazingly healthy, more so than the Lettuce Grow ones.
4. And… wondering why the Lettuce Grow is not putting runners out (actually saw one forming today) while this piddly little hydroponic system is going nuts both in growth and runners.
Thanks!
Amanda Bosca
I live in Portugal (probably Zone 9). I only have a small terrace for growing, facing East. I just get about 3-4 hours of morning sun although the rest of the day is bright. I would like very much like to try to grow wood or alpine strawberries. Reine des Valle’s? Do you think I have a shot? Are there certain types that have a better chance with so little sun? I bought one of those hanging bags with pockets. Finding plants is difficult and I can’t order outside of the EU because of duty, etc.
Mary Ward
I think it’s worth a shot and you are on the right track with alpine or day neutral strawberries. I would give them the sunniest spot you can manage.
Paula H
I get a disgusting acetone-like smell from early-season strawberries that have been out on the counter three days or more. Is this some different pathogen that only affects early-season berries?
I am in central California, and I buy berries that were picked that morning, never pre-cooled. When a few start to rot on the third day, some display normal rot (decay?) – brown flesh that is mushy, with that rotten-fruit taste. But some rot differently; the rot is more blackish instead of brown, the rotten flesh remains firm, and they have a very strong chemical odor – not exactly acetone, but similar, maybe more like mercurochrome antiseptic. I suspect it’s a different pathogen. (None smelled bad on the first day.)
I only see this in March, which is very early in our season. After around April 10, none develop this strange rot. It should be noted, up until 2-3 years ago, you couldn’t buy acceptable local berries in March. My guess is that someone developed a new strain that ripens early but is prone to this pathogen. Does that sound right?
Mary Ward
I honestly do not know about that. Earlier seasons are often the result of season extension techniques and breeding varieties for early ripening and/or growing in cooler conditions. So, it is possible that it is related to a new or different variety.
That said, three days on the counter will usually turn berries. If you need to hold them that long, it’s best to refrigerate them or process them (freeze, dry, jam, preserve) for later use.
Cheryl
Due to autoimmune response to most foods, I’m on a dietary quest to locate and concentrate on diploid produce, seeds, and grains/pseudograins. I love strawberries and grow them but I have very uncomfortable reactions to them. While questing, I learned that commercial berries are most often octoploid or more! How might I be able to obtain seeds/crowns of diploid varieties?
Mary Ward
You’d have to know the names of varieties. I would focus on older varieties that are not commercial favorites.
As an aside, I have a friend who cannot eat raw strawberries, but can have them cooked.
Mark W
Newbie here. First year with June bearing and we got a nice crop for the first year. We have 6 rows about 12′ long. After harvest, I cut down the berry plants about the 2nd week in July. As time went on, the berry plants continued to grow and leaf up quite a bit. It rained and when it did not, we continued to water. Here is my question/concern. I was under the assumption we were to continue to trim down the plants and I have been cutting off all the leaf foliage and placing the runners in unoccupied rows. I have been trying to read all the information out there on various sites and there is so much DIFFERENT advice on all that you’re supposed to do come winter. Most everything out there mentions cutting the plants down and then covering when frost or temps in the 20’s are consistent. After the mowing of the rows, was I supposed to just let everything grow again? Do you just cut the plants once? Do you continue to water if it doesn’t rain? We are in MI where we have some serious winter. Was I supposed to cut everything down, and then cut everything down again just before we cover up for the winter? I feel confused and everything I am reading keeps talking about how easy this is. Extremely thankful for any help here.
Mary Ward
The model we follow is to cut once a few weeks after berries are finished (like you did), and renovate the patch and let the plants grow back, but leave them alone. Mulch before winter to protect the crowns. June bearing strawberries set their buds in the fall, so if you keep mowing them you will be cutting off next year’s first berry blossoms, which are most of the blossoms, and that will seriously hinder your yield.
Tammy
I planted some strawberries about a month or two ago. Some where planted directly in the soil outside since it was a bulb / crown? I think lol and the others I planted in tiny starter pots from seeds I bought.
Any was 2 things
1 so they probably had only a few or so many leaves on them at the time , they was getting there but they wasn’t all that big still , well land lord come by and was doing so work around house out side. Well he ended up weed eating. My strawberries thinking not realizing it’s my plant not some weeds ,,, … It’s been a few days since but I went looked under all this new mulch he heavily layered on my strawbabies
Well most all there stems and root are still grounded in there spot and seems they still have they color but not leaves on em ,
Is there any chance I can still save my. Lil berrry garden.what should I do to help em so the don’t die ?
And 2 didn’t know theres different kinds of strawberries so didn’t pay attention to names . How can I tell what all varieties I got planted here and correct care for emm?????!!!!!!!
Thank u so much taking time to read this, hopefully ull come bk with good news for me if u have time later
God Bless,
-Miss Tammy
Mary Ward
Hi Tammy.
Time will tell if your plants survived outside. There is a chance that if the roots were well established, they just might. You’re really going to have to wait and see. Hopefully you will get some small leaves within a few weeks. Pull the mulch back away from the crowns so they are not buried too deeply, which will cause rot issues. You don’t need to remove it all, just pull it back away from the plant a few inches and let some light get to the tops. Then wait and see.
As for the varieties, that’s not really very easy to tell once they are planted. The only thing that would be really helpful to know is whether you have everbearing or June bearing plants. At this point, that is also something you will have to wait and see. But that’s okay. The difference in care is not big enough to matter very much what the type or variety is. For now, just continue to give them good, basic strawberry care and you will do alright. You can come back with more questions later once you see how things are growing.
Good luck!
Romie Schwieterman
What if i let my strawberry plants and all their rapidly increasing runners alone and not cut off runners? I have a 4′ X 8′ raised bed and these first year plants are going crazy. I pinched off the flowers for the first four weeks after planting, I’m getting a few tasty strawberries, but I never heard about cutting off and/or limiting the runners. What if I just let them go ?
Mary Ward
Yes, many do and I’ve done it myself. After a few years they may exhaust themselves, though, so after two or three years you might need to think about renovating the bed.
Romie Schwieterman
What did I miss?
Carolyn
I am in northern Minn in zone 3b. My Honeoye strawberries are just about finished for the season (now 3rd week of July). Is now a good time to transplant plants to a friend’s garden or should I do so in late spring when the plants have grown into my “picking paths” and I need to remove them?
Also, I’ve had great berries using alfalfa mulch each year. Do I need additional fertilizer? If so, what? Thx so much!
Mary Ward
It’s up to you when you transplant, though cooler fall or spring weather is usually better. But if you are thinning to give more air circulation you could pass those plants along, or like you said, wait for what you’re taking out of your pathways. If transplanting in the warmest summer months, you’ll want to make sure they stay watered.
As for fertilizing, that’s hard to say. If you’re successful with your program you might not try to fix something that isn’t broken, but since the plants are older I’d consider some compost or fertilizer as an additional boost. After fruiting is a good time to do it.
Nancy
I don’t get my berries something is eating them what can I do to keep them out ?
Mary Ward
It depends on what’s eating them. Birds are probably the most common and you can hang bird/owl kites or old shiny CD’s on stakes, or you can use floating row cover. They all help. Also pain rocks red and strew them around the patch. Rodents are another possibility. Moth balls can work for them. Slugs are common, too, and beer or slug baits are useful against them.
Racquel
Something you can do is you can put them in a greenhouse, or if you plant them in a field, then you can have something protecting the plants and nothing will eat it
Dorothy
Will salt around the strawberry plants affect the growing process or harm the plant itself?
Mary Ward
Yes, strawberries are sensitive to salt and it can cause salt injury. It’s a good idea to increase watering to flush the salt from the soil.
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6820#
Rita Haughton
My water is salty. Will this harm my plants?
Mary Ward
Salty water is a problem for strawberries. It will stunt their growth and can cause issues like leaf scorch. DO you have an alternative water source? Could you collect rain water to water your plants with?
You might find some useful information here: https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/strawberries-in-the-garden#:
v. ahlgren
I would like to get on your list to buy Fairfax strawberry plants.
Mary Ward
We supply links to vendors. We do not sell directly. Please follow a link to a seller. Thanks for reading!
Ann
I saw a short video on Instagram with a rabbit eating a strawberry that appears to be growing from a strawberry tree! The “stalk,” stems and leaves of the plant look like a Privet Hedge. However, the strawberries do look like they are growing on it. I can see the back, and all sides of from different strawberries. Is this is just a fancy photo-shopped video?
Mary Ward
We’re not aware of a tree-like strawberry that is a true strawberry. There is a “strawberry tree” but it is more ornamental, the berries are not strawberries (just look alikes) and the berries are for birds, not humans.
David wolgast
I’d like to be on the list to buy Fairfax strawberry plants, thanks.
Mary
Is the fungus that causes red stele systemic? I would like to save runners from my current plants but if the fungus is systemic, then I would be transferring the disease from one area to another.
Sheila Abdon
I would like your Strawberry manual, but I don’t have a PayPal account and don’t want one, I would like to know if there’s another way I could buy this Manual, we usually go thru Amazon for everything ‘safety ‘ Please let me know if you can.
Thank you
Sheila A.
Mr. Strawberry
Check your email Sheila!
Edward Tholin
I have Ozark beauty plants that make a clump of20 or more plants can I separate them to replant.
Mary Ward
Yes, as long as each have good roots intact when you do. Keep them watered well while they get established.
Stephy
Hi…my strawberry plant turn dry, wilted leaves and runner. I have trim all the wilted leaves and runner as well as the roots. I have transplant it to another new pot and it has been 7 days still no new leaves. My question is how do i know if this plant is still alive or should i continue to wait?
Mary Ward
Seven days isn’t a lot of time for new growth. Give it at least a couple of weeks and see how it’s going.
richard
if i take a runner of my strawberry plant does the age of the new plant start again or is it still the same age as the parent plant ?
Sandy Sullivan
I have a problem with cat facing. I think it is either thrips or Lygus. Is there a way of keeping the insects out of the patch without spraying? Will covering the plants with Remay keep them out. My plants are just beginning to flower. If I cover them now will it affect pollination?
Thanks
Gray
I’m in the southern hemisphere and we are one month away from mid Summer yet some 50% of my Strawberries have still not produced flowers. Is this a issue or am I just impatient?
JillyT
I have scoured the internet .orgs and .edus and forums trying to get an answer to no avail.
What would cause strawberry plants (of several varieties I’m growing Eversweet, Ozark, Albion, Honoye… and some bubbleberry…) to grow relatively healthy leaves, but some plants will sprout an extra leaflet or 2, to cause 4 and 5 leaf plants when they’re supposed to have 3! I’d say it was genetic but it’s more than one kind. So it’s got to be environmentally caused. Any ideas?
Jon Shurtleff
My strawberries are not producing flowers. I have 16 plants and only got two flowers. what am I doing wrong
Samantha
Hello – Hopefully this isn’t too simple of a question. I wanted to try my hand at growing fruit, so I bought one strawberry plant with three leaves from a garden shop this past weekend. I still have it in the plastic pot I bought it in (which has drainage holes). Should I repot in a larger pot (or same size) and with new compost, or leave it be? I’m mostly worried about the size of it/nutrients. Any guidance would be appreciated
Peter Wagner
Dear Mr. Strawberry,
Just got your Master Manual but it didn’t address one growing issue: indoor hydroponics. I’m in CO at 8,000′ ft. A six foot fence doesn’t keep the deer out of the garden. I could go to an eight fence but unless it’s chain link, AND electrified it won’t keep out the elk and the bears. And yes bears love strawberries. So, I want to try growing strawberries hydroponically indoors, in the ~63F basement with full spectrum LED grow lights. What varieties would you recommend for this?
Fred
I have a patch of about 9 strawberry plants. One afternoon half of these plants had lost all or most of their leaves and most petioles where cut in half. These plants were healthy the evening before and had burgeoning fruits. What happened? Can it be slugs? Birds?
Evelyn Avery
I have lost several plants this year due to a white substance the looks and feels like concrete, what is it and how do I treat for it. Any advise is greatly appreciated.
Eve
Susan
My strawberry plants are full of lush green leaves and quite a few baby berries. They’re not ripening much though. I get 4-5 berries when I go to pick them that are ripe. Why is this occurring?!
Judy Kolb
One of my plants died 2 years ago and since then my one remaining plant does not produce berries. Must I have more than one plant?
Santhosh Kumar
Why are my strawberry seeds falling off?
Mary Ward
Falling off the fruit? Ripe fruit or overripe, older berries?