How To Make Strawberries Grow Big

Imagine biting into a juicy, sun-ripened strawberry, so big and flavorful it bursts in your mouth. Growing strawberries, especially getting them to reach impressive sizes, can seem like a challenge, but with the right knowledge and a little bit of dedication, you can harvest a bumper crop of giant, delicious berries right in your own backyard. Let's dive into the secrets of how to make strawberries grow big and become the envy of all your gardening friends!

Selecting the Right Strawberry Variety

Choosing the right variety of strawberry is the first crucial step inhow to make strawberries grow big. Not all strawberries are created equal! Some varieties are naturally larger than others. Understanding the different types and selecting one known for producing big fruit will give you a significant head start. Here's a breakdown:

June-Bearing Strawberries

June-bearing strawberries produce one large crop of berries, typically over a 2-3 week period in late spring or early summer. These varieties often produce the largest individual berries. Some top choices for large fruit include:

1. Chandler: Known for its sweet flavor and impressive size. A popular choice for home gardens.
2. Honeoye: A very early season variety with good disease resistance and large, firm berries.
3. Earliglow: Another early variety, valued for its exceptional flavor and consistently large fruit.

Everbearing Strawberries

Everbearing strawberries produce two or three crops of berries throughout the growing season – one in the spring, one in the summer, and sometimes a smaller crop in the fall. While the individual berries might not be as consistently large as June-bearing varieties, careful cultivation can still yield impressively sized fruit. Good choices include:

1. Ozark Beauty: Reliable and productive, with good-sized berries and excellent flavor.
2. Seascape: A popular everbearing variety known for its large, flavorful fruit and good disease resistance.

Day-Neutral Strawberries

Day-neutral strawberries produce berries continuously throughout the growing season, regardless of day length. While the individual berries tend to be smaller than June-bearing varieties, consistent care and proper fertilization can still result in respectable fruit size. A recommended variety is:

1. Albion: Prized for its excellent flavor, high yield, and good disease resistance, even if the berry size is somewhat moderate.

Preparing the Soil for Maximum Strawberry Growth

The key tomaking strawberries grow to a large size lies significantly in the soil they're planted in. Strawberries thrive in well-drained, slightly acidic soil (p H 5.5-6.5). Before planting, conduct a soil test to determine your soil's p H and nutrient levels. Amend the soil accordingly to create the ideal growing environment.

Soil Amendments

Here's what you can do to improve your soil:

1. Organic Matter: Incorporate plenty of compost, aged manure, or other organic matter to improve drainage, water retention, and nutrient content. Organic matter also helps to loosen compacted soil, allowing roots to penetrate more easily. Aim for at least 2-3 inches of organic matter worked into the top 6-8 inches of soil.
2. Soil p H Adjustment: If your soil is too alkaline (p H above 6.5), add sulfur or acidic organic matter like pine needles. If it's too acidic (p H below

   5.5), add lime to raise the p H. Follow the recommendations of your soil test for the correct amount to add.

3. Fertilizers: A balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 or 12-12-12, can provide essential nutrients for healthy growth. Apply fertilizer according to package directions, being careful not to over-fertilize, which can burn the plants.

Preparing the Planting Bed

Create raised beds or mounds for your strawberry plants. This improves drainage and prevents root rot, which is a common problem in poorly drained soils. Space plants appropriately, typically 12-18 inches apart, depending on the variety. Adequate spacing allows for good air circulation, reducing the risk of disease and allowing each plant to receive enough sunlight. Consider using black plastic mulch to suppress weeds, warm the soil, and conserve moisture.

Watering and Fertilizing for Big Strawberries

Consistent watering and proper fertilization are vital forgrowing bigger strawberries. Strawberries need about 1 inch of water per week, especially during fruit development. Water deeply and regularly, preferably in the morning, to allow the foliage to dry before evening and minimize the risk of fungal diseases. Using a soaker hose or drip irrigation system delivers water directly to the roots, minimizing water waste and reducing the risk of leaf diseases.

Fertilizing Schedule

Follow a regular fertilizing schedule to provide your strawberry plants with the nutrients they need to produce large, juicy berries.

1. Spring: Apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) when new growth appears in the spring.
2. After Harvest: Fertilize again after the first major harvest (for June-bearing varieties) to encourage strong growth for the following year.
3. Everbearing/Day-Neutral: For everbearing and day-neutral varieties, fertilize every 4-6 weeks throughout the growing season with a balanced fertilizer or a fertilizer specifically formulated for berries.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer

Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen, as this can promote excessive leaf growth at the expense of fruit production. Look for fertilizers that are higher in phosphorus and potassium, which are essential for fruit development. You can also use organic fertilizers, such as compost tea or fish emulsion, to provide a slow-release source of nutrients.

Pruning and Thinning for Bigger Fruit

Pruning and thinning are essential techniques to ensure that your strawberry plants focus their energy on producing fewer, but larger, fruits. This might sound counterintuitive, but reducing the number of flowers and runners allows the plant to allocate more resources to the remaining berries, resulting in bigger and more flavorful strawberries.

Runner Management

Strawberry plants produce runners, which are horizontal stems that grow along the ground and develop into new plantlets. While runners are useful for propagating new plants, they can also drain energy from the mother plant, reducing fruit production. For June-bearing varieties, remove runners regularly throughout the growing season to encourage the mother plant to focus on fruit production. For everbearing and day-neutral varieties, you can allow some runners to develop, but be sure to thin them out periodically to prevent overcrowding.

Flower Thinning

In the first year of planting, it's often recommended to remove all the flowers that appear. This allows the plant to focus on developing a strong root system and healthy foliage, which will lead to greater fruit production in subsequent years. In subsequent years, you can thin out the flowers, especially if you notice that the plant is producing too many berries. Removing some of the flowers will allow the plant to allocate more energy to the remaining berries, resulting in larger and more flavorful fruit.

Pest and Disease Control for Healthy Strawberries

Protecting your strawberry plants from pests and diseases is crucial formaking your strawberries grow big. Pests like slugs, snails, and aphids can damage the plants and reduce fruit production. Diseases like gray mold (Botrytis) and leaf spot can also weaken the plants and affect the quality of the fruit. Implement preventative measures and address problems promptly to keep your plants healthy and productive.

Common Pests and Diseases

1. Slugs and Snails: These pests can be controlled with traps, handpicking, or organic slug baits.
2. Aphids: These small insects can be controlled with insecticidal soap or by introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs.
3. Gray Mold (Botrytis): This fungal disease can be prevented by ensuring good air circulation, avoiding overhead watering, and removing infected fruit and foliage promptly.
4. Leaf Spot: This fungal disease can be controlled with copper-based fungicides or by removing infected leaves.

Preventative Measures

Here are some ways to prevent pests and diseases from affecting your strawberry plants:

1. Good Air Circulation: Space plants properly to allow for good air circulation, which helps to reduce humidity and prevent fungal diseases.
2. Weed Control: Keep the planting bed free of weeds, as they can harbor pests and diseases.
3. Crop Rotation: Avoid planting strawberries in the same location year after year, as this can increase the risk of soilborne diseases.
4. Healthy Plants: Choose disease-resistant varieties and maintain healthy plants through proper watering, fertilization, and pruning.

Harvesting and Storage

Harvesting strawberries at the peak of ripeness is essential for enjoying their full flavor and sweetness. Berries that are picked too early may be sour and lack flavor, while berries that are overripe may be mushy and prone to spoilage.

When to Harvest

Strawberries are typically ready to harvest when they are fully colored (bright red for most varieties), firm to the touch, and easily detach from the stem. Harvest in the morning, after the dew has dried, as the berries will be drier and less susceptible to bruising. Handle the berries gently to avoid damaging them. Cut the stem just above the berry, leaving a small portion of the stem attached.

Storage

Store unwashed strawberries in the refrigerator in a single layer, preferably in a container lined with paper towels. Do not wash the berries until just before you are ready to eat them, as washing them beforehand can promote spoilage. Properly stored strawberries can last for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Growing your own strawberries, and especially achieving those impressive sizes, takes time, patience, and the right techniques. But the reward – that first bite of a perfectly grown, juicy strawberry – is well worth the effort. Happy gardening!

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