Wondering when to plant strawberry plants?

The question of when to plant strawberry plants is really a question of how fast you want to start enjoying a healthy patch. Most people think of planting strawberries right in the middle of the ‘spring rush’ when your local gardening centre is a total zoo, and the exact plants you want can be impossible to find. But did you know that fall is actually the best time to plant your strawberries?

Here’s Why You Should Plant Strawberry Plants in the Fall

If you’ve never heard of it, it may sound a bit crazy to plant strawberry plants in the fall, but in reality, it’s smart planting. Think of it as spring garden planning. Most of the commercial planters already do it. Why? Because by planting in the fall you can harvest healthy, robust strawberries next spring and summer.

Fall-Planted Strawberries: How it Works

Fall planted strawberry plants have already set next year’s strawberry buds. This goes for both strawberries grown in garden beds and container grown strawberries. The cooler fall temperatures create the perfect conditions for the plans to set roots and establish themselves before going dormant for the winter. Once the ground warms up in late winter and early spring, the plants will get going on fruiting.

When you plant strawberry seeds in spring, it means you will have to wait until the next spring or summer to harvest. And if you plant starter plants in spring, you’ll be pinching off the flowers to encourage deep rooting. But, the plants you plant in the fall are already setting next year’s strawberry buds; this means you’ll be able to harvest fresh, juicy strawberries the very next spring and summer.

Which strawberries are best for fall planting? Always go for healthy starter plants instead of bare root plants. Here at GrowJoy, we ship out potted plants with well-established root systems. Unlike bare-root strawberries (which most gardeners plant in spring), these are live, potted strawberry plants. The already-established root system enables them to take hold quickly with a minimum of care, which makes it possible for your fall-planted strawberries to survive the rigors of winter.

Your Strawberry Patch Will Come Back Year After Year

Strawberries are perennial, even in areas with cold and snowy winters. If your temperatures get below freezing, simply cut your strawberry plants back to the ground in the fall and cover them with a few inches of straw. This will protect the roots and keep the plants from ‘heaving’ as the soil thaws and freezes. Then, as you start to see new shoots in the spring, simply push the straw off the plants, leaving it between them, which helps to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.

Grow with Your Health in Mind

As always, it’s of vital importance to us at GrowJoy that all of our strawberry plants are grown organically, without the use of harmful chemicals.

So now that you’ve got the all the info on fall planted organic strawberries, the only thing left to decide is how many strawberry plants you need to plant!

3 Great Reasons to Grow Your Own Strawberries

1. Your Health. With your very own strawberry patch, you know that your berries are chemical and pathogen-free. Many conventionally grown strawberries contain high amounts of pesticides and other chemicals used in the growing process.
2. Your Bank Account. Grow your sweet organic strawberries at a fraction of the price of buying strawberries at the store.
3. Your Happiness. Growing your own berry patch gets you outside under the sun with your hands in the dirt. There’s no better place to be. And once it’s time to harvest you can be sure the whole family will want to be involved – especially the little ones!