1. Check the local nurseries for availability dates of strawberry plants. They are usually available in late April or early May and typically are sold bare root as little slips. Local plants will be selected to match the area weather and will be easiest to grow. Online suppliers provide more variety.
2. Till the soil and add amendments as suggested by the local garden shop. Compost and aged manure are beneficial. Alfalfa meal or vegetable food fertilizer are typically recommended. Soil of pH 5.3 to 6.5 is ideal though berries will tolerate some variance. Home pH testing kits are available, and most Cooperative Extension Services will professionally test soil on request.
3. Plant in rows about a foot apart. The crown should be at or slightly above ground level with roots below ground. Be sure to dig the root hole deep enough so that the roots are not bunched to the sides. Lightly hilling the planting row is recommended though not critical if the soil drains well.
4. Weed around plants on a regular basis or cover area between rows and around plants with a barrier. Competition from weeds or tree roots will result in smaller, inferior strawberries.
5. To ensure bigger berries, prune off runners as they appear. To increase the size of the patch, allow runners to form, clip runners and replant new runner plants year to year. The runner plants tend to produce smaller berries but can be used successfully to flesh out a patch.
6. Cover lightly with straw to protect plants and to prevent weeds from taking over the patch at the end of the season. The straw both helps as far as keeping the plants warm and also in reducing weed growth.
7. Remove straw the following spring for the next crop.
Strawberry plants generally produce three to four years. Though commercial growers plant strawberries as annuals, they are perennial plants and can be used multiple seasons in the home garden. The plants are attractive with pretty white flowers and then bright red berries, so they can be mingled with flowers or planted traditionally in a vegetable garden.