How to grow strawberry plants at home

Strawberry plants are very easy to grow at home.   You can either grow them in the ground or grow them in pots.   The plants will grow in a subtropical to cool temperate regions.   The plants are very productive and will continue producing for a number of years up to 4 years.  The plants do not take up much space and are easy to care for.   Stawberry plants require a warm position if full sun.   The soil should be well drained and fertile. 

How to prepare the garden bed for strawberry plant

Soil preparation is important for strawberry plants.    To get the best fruit from your strawberry plants you need a well drained and fertile soil.   Animal manures such as cow, sheep or chicken manure will assist in improving the soil and create strong plants with good fruit.  If you have heavy soils or clay soils you may like to add some Gypsum to the soil to break it up.  Gypsum can be added and dug through for the best results.  If you are using pots you can use a good quality potting mix.  The addition of slow realease fertiliser will assist in plant growth.   You can use a broad pot and place an number of plants per pot.   You can also get specialist hanging planter bags to grow strawberry plants they have many holes in the side of the bags to allow the planing of strawberries and watering is done from the top.   Hang the planter bags from a sunny spot on the balcony.   Bags are available from nurseries.   If you are going to plant in the ground then you need to till the ground well,  strawberries are grown in lines of plants.  An imporant factor in growing strawberries is mulch.   You can use straw or weed mat.   Weed mat is used commerically, but can be used in the same way at home.  Cut a strip of weed mat around 2 feet wide and place over the ground where the strawberries are to be grown.   Cut a hole every foot of so apart,  the strawberries are then planted in these holes.    Commonly people mound up the soil along the line to be planted this assists with drainage.    Generally the mound is around 20cm tall.     Control of weeds is imporant and the mulch or weed mat will assist with this.

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How to fertilise stawberry plants

To produce strong plants that live for many years and produce good sized and tasting fruit you need to fertilise your stawberries well.  Apart from using animal manures such as cow, sheet or chicken manure the addition of a good NPK fertiliser will assist in growth.   Once your strawberries have been planted give them a small dose of general purpose vegetable fertiliser around the root zone.  You will have to do this around twice to three times during the warm part of the year.   Strawberries also love liquid fertilisers.   The use of a good seaweed based fertiliser with NPK will assist in producing excellent fruit,  this needs to be done every two weeks during the growing season.

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how to grow stawberry plants from seed

It is possible to grow stawberries from seed, but the seed can be hard to find.  Most home gardeners purchase their strawberries as punnets.  As the plants live for many years this is still quite and cost effective way to get strawberry plants.  If you are growing them from seed the best way to to purchase some small pots or punnets and use a good seed raising mix.  The addition of slow realease fertiliser will assist in growth.  Once you have filled your punnets with potting mix then sprinkle the seed on the surface and cover with a light sprinkle of potting mix.  Place the punnets in a warm sunny spot and water well.  Seeds will appear in around two to three weeks.   You will need to thin out your seedling once they have appeared.  Pick the strongest looking plants to keep.  Once the plants have got to around 8cm tall it is time to plant out. 

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