Growing Strawberries in Raised Beds (2024)

FAQs

Do strawberries grow well in raised beds? ›

When it comes to soil, they prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Amend the soil with compost for added nutrients and ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogged roots. Raised beds are ideal for growing strawberries; they promote fluffy, well-drained soil and help prevent invasion from weeds and grass.

If you are asking how many strawberry plants per square foot is best, it is best to thin the plants out so that only about 4 are left per square foot (no more than 6 per square foot). But, don't toss the extras! You can replant them easily or give them away to friends and neighbors who have a spare pot sitting around.

Strawberries only need about 4-6 inches of soil for their roots so shallow containers will work. Whatever size or shape container you use, make sure they have adequate drainage holes in the bottom. Water your strawberry plants whenever the soil is dry to ½ inch depth.

Strawberry plants can be planted 4 per square foot in the full sun. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below.

Because of colder temperatures, strawberry plants growing in raised beds require more protection that ground level sites. Place 6 to 8 inches of straw or chopped cornstalks on strawberry pyramids or other raised beds in fall.

Watering. Strawberry plants need regular water to thrive, especially during fruit bearing season, when they need an average of 1-2 inches of water daily.

Day-neutral strawberries are easiest to manage on raised beds. Create beds six inches high and 24 inches across on the top. The beds should be four feet apart on center leaving about two feet between beds for a walkway.

Strawberry beds tend to get overcrowded with plants and expand in size so that it is difficult to pick fruit without stepping on plants. They become less productive after a few years because plants produce less fruit as they get older. Plants also produce less fruit of smaller size when they are crowded.

A simple 4x8 wooden elevated bed is very suitable for strawberry planting, but there are many other options. Garden beds are perfect for strawberries. They provide good drainage for strawberry plants and can easily control the soil quality for berry growth.

Use a good-quality, peat-free, all-purpose mix. We never advise using garden soil as, in a container, it will just compact and become slow to drain, which strawberries definitely won't like. Strawberry plants prefer a free-draining mix – something that stays moist enough but never gets sodden.

Do strawberries grow better in pots or ground? ›

Strawberries prefer rich, well-draining soil and keeping plants in pots is a good solution for gardens with nutrient poor or soggy earth.

The number of strawberries produced by a single plant can vary based on several factors, including the variety of strawberry, growing conditions, care given to the plant, and the duration of the growing season. On average, a healthy strawberry plant can produce anywhere from around 150 to 400 strawberries per season.

If you have a 4×4 foot garden plot, plant one strawberry plant in the center of each square foot during the very early spring. Pinch or cut all the strawberry flowers off of the plants in year one, but allow the strawberry runners to grow and root within the 4×4 feet of garden.

Many varieties of strawberries eagerly produce offspring, so it is best to space them 18 inches apart. There are a few varieties, though, that produce few if any runners; these can be spaced 6 inches apart.

You can plant 16 strawberry plants that produce runners in a 4×4 raised bed. If you are growing a runnerless strawberry variety or one that produces fewer runners, plant 4 strawberries per square foot. This will ensure you have a large harvest as soon as possible.

Bad Neighbors for Strawberries

Common vegetable crops — including tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons and plants in the rose family — can introduce the fungi responsible for Verticillium wilt. Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and red clover can harbor species of nematodes that can feed on strawberries.

Plants to Avoid in your Strawberry Patch

In this case, strawberry plants are prone to a disease called verticillium. Plants like tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, melons, peppers, roses, mint, and okra may actually contribute to this deadly disease in strawberry plants.