So you've just planted your first strawberry seedlings in your Farmstand -- hooray! Strawberries are great because they are one of the easiest fruits to grow and one of the most delicious. This may be your first time growing strawberries so we put this handy guide together for you!
What to Expect
Strawberries love to be planted in full sun and while strawberry plants send out runners to create new plants, they don't need pruning. Simply trim off any leaves or runners that look unhealthy or have browned.
Strawberries take longer to fruit and mature than many of our other varieties. You can expect a 5-8 week growing window for the seedling to get established and start producing flowers.
Each strawberry flower will develop into a delicious fruit! The fruit will be fully mature 3-4 weeks after flowering. Strawberries can handle winter weather in more mild climates but will not survive a freeze. In summer, if your daily average temperature rises above 95F, the plant may struggle.
As each strawberry plant grows, you'll notice new runners coming off your original plant. These will produce daughter plants and each one will produce fruit. Each daughter will hang off of the Farmstand as it grows. You can leave them as-is or neatly wrap them around your Farmstand, tucking each shoot under the lip of a neighboring grow cup. Each plant you receive can produce 3-5 daughter plants.
If your strawberry seedling stops producing fruit after a few months, you should remove it from your Farmstand and transplant it to a soil garden or hanging pot. Strawberry plants can continue to produce fruit for 5 years but will slow fruit production after 3.
How to Harvest
Strawberries will be ready to harvest 3-4 weeks after blossoming. Harvest berries when they are fully ripe (bright red all around) as they will not continue to ripen once picked. Use scissors to snip the fruit at the stem and avoid pulling off parts of the plant that are still growing.
Strawberries will keep in the refrigerator for a 3 to 5 days. Only wash them right before you plan on eating them to maintain freshness. They are best enjoyed shortly after harvest with a friend!
Pests
Pests love these delicious red fruits just as much as we do! The most common strawberry pests are aphids, spider mites, snails and slugs. Luckily, keeping the plants off the ground and in your Farmstand should alleviate most snail and slug problems.
If you notice small deep holes in your strawberries or slime marks on your Farmstand, you likely have a snail or slug. You can use Sluggo or diatomaceous earth to keep them away.
Check for aphids on your strawberry plants as you would any other seedling. Inspect under leaves and near stems. If you encounter aphids, wash them off with water or insecticidal soap. You can also use Neem Oil to prevent and treat aphids by spraying every 3 to 5 days in the evening or when your grow lights are off.
Spider mites are sneaky and love to hang out on drought-stressed plants. The best way to prevent spider mites is to keep your plants healthy and remove any unhealthy or weak looking leaves. Insecticidal soap and Neem Oil are effective treatments for spider mites as well.
Spider Mites:
Larger Pests
You may encounter deer, birds, and squirrels trying to eat your strawberries. The best way to protect your strawberries is to place a barrier around your Farmstand that will keep them out. Since the Farmstand has a smooth surface, it's difficult for squirrels grab your strawberries unless your Farmstand is near a railing or branch, which they can use to steady themselves. Simply move your Farmstand away from these items to keep the squirrels at bay. If you have lots of deer, birds, or squirrels, we recommend placing a small portable greenhouse around your Farmstand.
