By Carrie Knutson, Horticulture agent

NDSU Extension – Grand Forks County

I always try to grow a new fruit or vegetable in my garden every year. This year, I am experimenting with a family favorite — strawberries. I love strawberries, and our family makes a trip just about every July to harvest fresh strawberries in the sweltering heat. However, I haven’t tried growing them at home.

What stopped me from growing them was time and space. While I still don’t have more time, some space has opened up in my garden beds. Let’s explore what you and I need to know if we want to try growing strawberries this growing season.

First, there are three types of strawberries: June-bearing, everbearing and day-neutral. The type you pick will depend on your strawberry needs. Do you want to make jam, pies and crisps, or would you rather have some to snack on all summer?

June-bearing strawberries will produce a large crop in mid-June to early July. Everbearing strawberries produce one crop in early summer and a second crop in the fall. Day-neutral strawberries will produce fruit throughout most of the growing season. There are many strawberry varieties available through seed and nursery companies. Make sure it is the bearing type you want and is hardy enough for where you live.

Strawberries require full sun — ideally at least six to 10 hours of direct sunlight each day — to produce a good crop. They should be planted in well-drained soil. When selecting your site, be aware of potential shade from growing trees and shrubs, as well as the competition from their root systems.

Have a soil test done to determine whether you need to add nutrients before planting. Adding compost before planting will provide nutrients over the growing season. Space plants 18-24 inches apart and rows 3-4 feet apart. The crown of the plant — the point where the leaves and roots meet — should be just at the soil surface, with the roots completely buried in the soil.

Like most garden crops, strawberries do best with 1 inch of rain per week. Water the plants in the morning to reduce the chance of disease development.

Weeds are the number one nemesis of strawberries. Strawberries are shallow-rooted and can be easily damaged; hand weeding around the plants is recommended. Mulch can help with weed competition, conserve water and reduce disease.

Remove any flowers for the first few weeks of establishment. This will help the plant grow leaves and roots first. This will eventually help the plant produce better fruit. Move and train runners to fill in bare areas. Later, cut runners back to keep the plants where you want them.

The crown of strawberry plants is sensitive to cold temperatures. Adding mulch after repeated frosts will provide additional protection, especially in winters with minimal snowfall. Cover the plants with 4-6 inches of weed- and herbicide-free mulch, such as straw or leaves.

I am “berry” anxious to see how the plants grow in my garden this summer. Happy gardening!

NDSU Agriculture Communication – March 31, 2026

Source: Carrie Knutson, 701-780-8229, carrie.knutson@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu