Cultivating Strawberries in Elevated Beds: Exploring Advantages and Step-by-Step Guide
Fresh Take on Gorgeous, Effortless StrawberriesWho doesn't relish the taste of sun-warmed strawberries plucked straight from the garden? Growing strawberries in raised beds is the key to a delightful and hassle-free gardening experience.
Strawberries grown this way give you all the joy of homegrown fruit with less of the effort!
So, how do you craft a thriving strawberry oasis in your backyard? Here's everything you need to know about planting, cultivating, and caring for strawberries for the ultimate June bearing, everbearing, and day-neutral fruits.
Feeling crafty? Don't fancy building a raised bed? That's okay! Take a look at our platform Shop for a variety of stylish and efficient round, square, and even cascading raised bed designs.
The Allure of Raised Beds
All strawberry lovers dread poor drainage. Strawberries hate wet soil and will die quickly when it's waterlogged. Growing strawberries in raised beds is a brilliant alternative––the higher elevation guarantees better drainage without the need for extra containers or hanging baskets.
Plus, tending to elevated soil beds makes gardening a breeze. Forget stooping low to weed or maneuvering around plants. With raised beds, you can work the soil while comfortably seated on a garden stool!
Dream Raised Beds for Strawberries
Wooden frames filled with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil, and any necessary amendments, make the perfect elevated strawberry home. The secret to great drainage is incorporating organic matter, such as wood chips, chopped tree bark, sawdust, composted manures, or plant-based composts, into the soil mixture before planting.
Why not construct your own raised bed frames? Building hedge-free, DIY raised beds is A-OK if fancy framed designs aren't an option. Simply create mounds of soil and organic compost materials. While the soil works just as well as soil in frames, wind and rain may cause your raised hills to erode over time. So, when it comes to strawberries, frames are the go-to choice for maximum stability.
Planting Your Strawberries in Elevation
Plant strawberries in raised beds as soon as the ground is workable in the spring. The key to larger berries is plentiful time for plants to establish networks and produce fruit.
Planting depth depends on the type of strawberries you buy. For bare-root plants, make a hole large enough for the roots to fit comfortably with no bending. Plant so that the crown is at soil level, with the highest root beneath the soil surface to protect it from harsh rains.
Container plants should be planted at the same depth in the raised bed soil that they occupied in their original containers. Planting too deeply may cause the growing tip to rot, while planting too shallow could expose the roots to damaging air.
After initial planting, give your strawberries a good soak to settle the soil, then check the plant to ensure the correct depth has been maintained.
Time-Tested Planting Systems
There are two primary systems for planting strawberries: the matted row system and the annual system.
Matted Row System
This perennial system encourages plants to send out runners, creating a dense, wide row. After harvest is complete in spring, prune the row and allow new runners to take over. This ongoing process requires year-round attention to watering, weeding, and pest control.
Annual System
Ideal for warmer climates, this system features falling plantings. Position plants about a foot apart in the fall, staggering them in two or three rows, staggered for optimal sunlight exposure and spacing. Harvest in February through May, then remove and replant with a fresh crop in the summer months.
Tailoring Your Care
The maintenance required for your strawberries depends on the type you choose. There are three main kinds of strawberries: June-bearers, everbearers, and day-neutrals.
- June-Bearers: June-bearing strawberries produce one fruit crop per year, near June, with about a month of fruiting. These runners require space to roam; if you prefer compact plants, trim them back as needed.
- Everbearing Strawberries: Also known as remontant or perpetual strawberries, these berries provide smaller fruits in multiple flushes, from late spring through early fall.
- Day-Neutrals: Day-neutrals produce fruit continuously throughout the season. When they initially develop a flower stem, snip it off to encourage growth of the crown and leafy structure before blooming.
Stay vigilant when it comes to watering––new transplants need frequent watering twice daily initially, then once or twice weekly. Keep the soil consistently moist without being soggy. Fertilize plants once or twice yearly, using slow-release organic fertilizers like bone meal or fish meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are strawberries good in raised beds?
How many strawberries are too many for a raised bed?
Additional Delicious Berry Adventures
- Curious about growing hydroponic strawberries in a mess-free setting? Check out how to cultivate hydroponic strawberries for an easy way to reap delicious berry harvests.
- Fancy trying your hand at low-maintenance, fruiting shrubs? These native berry bushes are both lovely to look at and packed with tasty fruit potential.
- Feeling adventurous with berry cultivation? Don't stop at strawberries! Browse an array of blueberries, walnuts, and edibles in our platform Shop for even more berry-growing inspiration.
Note: Strawberry plant availability in our platform Shop may be limited, so act quickly if you're interested!
Source:1. "Strawberry Plants: Growing and Choosing the Best Strawberries" (Michigan State University Extension, July 29, 2019)2. "Planting Strawberries in Raised Beds" (Gardening Know How, October 11, 2021)3. "Planting Strawberries: Tips for a Successful Strawberry Patch" (Garden Guides, July 1, 2020)4. "Growing Strawberries | The Organic Authority" (The Organic Authority, April 1, 2021)5. "How to Plant Strawberries: 13 Tips for Turning Your Backyard into a Berry Patch" (Gardener's Path, May 4, 2021)
Engage in a seamless gardening journey and elevate your home-and-garden lifestyle with the enticing allure of raised beds. Ideal for strawberries, these elevated soil beds ensure optimal drainage and effortless care, transforming the gardening process into a comfortable and hassle-free experience.
Experiment with our Shop platform and discover diverse, stylish, and efficient round, square, and cascading raised bed designs, offering a perfect blend of sophistication and functionality to accommodate your thriving strawberry oasis.
