Strawberries are hardy, easy to grow and produce a good crop with moderate effort, making them well suited to home gardens. Early spring is the best time to plant strawberries in Iowa, but don’t rush to remove mulch.
As temperatures move closer to freezing and below, remember the sweet, delicious June strawberries from your garden and take time to protect the plants – and next season’s crop. Just like many people, strawberry plants don’t like to feel those colder temperatures.
This week Iowa State University Extension garden experts have answers to questions about growing strawberries in a home garden, including those from gardeners planning their first strawberry bed and those maintaining an established bed.
The time is approaching to uncover hybrid tea roses and strawberries, cut back ornamental grasses and apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees.
Strawberries are well suited to home gardens. They are hardy, easy to grow, and produce a good crop with moderate effort. Early spring (April to early May) is the best time to plant strawberries in Iowa.
A June-bearing strawberry planting can be productive for several years if the bed is given good care. One important task is to renovate June-bearing strawberries immediately after harvest. The renovation process involves leaf removal, creation of 8-inch-wide plant strips, and fertilization. After the initial renovation steps have been completed, irrigation and weed control are necessary throughout the remainder of the growing season
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Should I fertilize my June-bearing strawberries in spring?
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