Strawberries are delicious berries that are easy to plant in your vegetable garden. However, like growing any other plant, it helps to know the optimal time to plant strawberry plants. Here is a detailed guide on how and when to plant your plants.
The Best Time to Plant Strawberries
If you live in Zone 7, the best time to plant strawberries is between mid-December and early April. This is according to The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Planting Your strawberries during this period will enable you to get a maximum harvest.
Something else to take into consideration is the temperature. Generally, strawberries thrive well in temperatures ranging from 60F to 80F. Nevertheless, these plants can still do well in temperatures lower than 50F. The only condition is that they are covered to shield them from frost.
Where Should You Plant Strawberries
Besides the temperature, other factors like the soil condition and the pH should be taken into account.
The Sun
Strawberries do well in full sun and need at least 8 hours of daily sunlight daily. Hence, it’s important to plant your strawberries in a sunny location.
Soil Condition
Strawberries thrive in soil with a pH of between 5.5 and 6.8. Although they love acidic soil, you may still need to make some adjustments to ensure the right soil conditions for your plants. Otherwise, certain components in the soil can prevent the healthy growth of your plants.
To check the pH level of your soil, purchase testing kits from nurseries and garden centers. Alternatively, you can still use homemade ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and distilled water.
If the soil is too alkaline or too acidic, you need to add certain components to alter it. For instance, sulfur helps to boost soil acidity while ground limestone can help lower the soil’s acidity.
How to Choose Strawberries for Zone 7
With over 200 varieties of strawberries available, the best variety to grow will depend on the temperature and climate. Here are common strawberry varieties to plant in zone 7.
- Ac Wendy
- Albion
- Whopper
- Toscana
- Ruby Ann
- Alpine White Soul
- Berries Galore Pink Hybrid
- Camarosa
- Chandler
- Delizz
- Seascape
- Earliglow
- Eversweet
- Evie-2
- The Ruby Ann
- Toscana
- Ozark Beauty
- Honeoye
- Flavorfest
- The Purple Wonder
If you are looking to get an abundant harvest and supply of strawberries, consider planting more than one variety. Also, ensure that you maintain the correct conditions for a healthy strawberry harvest.