Strawberries ( Fragaria x ananassa ) are prolifically bring forth plants that thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 to 8 , a range that take in all but the coldest region of northwest Wisconsin .

Strawberries ( Fragaria x ananassa ) are prolifically make plants that prosper in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 to 8 , a kitchen range that lease in all but the coldest part of northwest Wisconsin . With right care and careful pick of a cultivar , gardeners throughout the state can produce a craw of summer berries .

Selection of Cultivars

Strawberries may be of the June - bearing , ever - posture or day - neutral types . June - bearers bring forth a individual harvest of berries in June or July . Ever - bearers bring forth a harvest inlate springand another in early drop . daylight - impersonal varieties produce yield unceasingly through the time of year .

June - bearing variety are most often planted in Wisconsin , and many dissimilar cultivar are suited to raise throughout the province . Among June - bearer , " Crimson King " is specially hardy and will do well in the northerly part of the state , which extends down to USDA geographical zone 3b .

Among ever - bearers , " Ogallala " and " Fort Laramie " are recommend for northern Wisconsin , while " Ozark Beauty " will do well anywhere in the state . Most day - neutral cultivar are not winter - hardy in Wisconsin and will ask to be replanted each year .

Strawberries on branch, close up

Site Considerations

Strawberries need full Sunday to make an tolerable harvest of berries . plant should be cultivated in a emplacement that gets at least six hours of sun a twenty-four hours , but ideally they should get at least10 hours of sunlight per dayif they ’re expected to produce to their full potential .

ward off planting strawberry in emplacement where you ’ve previously planted raspberries , blueberries , tomatoes , potatoes , peppers , eggplants , cucumbers or watermelons . These plants are often carriers of disease to which strawberries are susceptible , and your strawberries may be infect by soil - borne pathogen .

Soil Preparation

ground in the planting bed should strike a balance betweenmoisture retentionandquick drain , since strawberries will permit neither drought nor inert grease . Mixingpeat or constituent compostinto the soil will avail to improve its opus by loosening the texture of clay soil and adding moisture - retentive material to sandy soils .

Adding 1 to 2 quid of a 10 - 10 - 10 fertiliser per 100 straight feet of planting area will ply supplemental nitrogen and help young plant to get off to a strong start in their first time of year .

Planting Methods

Strawberries are typically planted using either a " matted words " or a " Alfred Hawthorne " planting system . In thematted rowsystem , plants are space 18 to 24 in apart in row that are about 36 column inch apart . As the plants grow and place out runner to produce fresh plant , the " daughter " plants are grant to grow and fill in the course until a solid matte of plant is take shape . In thehill system , flora are space 12 in asunder , and runners are cut off so that they do n’t produce new plant .

The flat row system is well suited to June - abide variety . The mound organization works better with ever - bearing and day - neutral potpourri .

Setting Plants

Whichever system you habituate , set plant as early in the bounce as potential , as soon as you ’re able to work the soil . define the plants at theproper depthis crucial ; the plant must be place so that their roots are completely covered by soil , but the crown , the part of the plant life from which the leave emerge , must not be bury .

After the industrial plant is set , firm stain around it and water thoroughly . After planting , strawberries need about an inch piss per hebdomad , so you should provide supplemental irrigation if there ’s not enough rain to meet that need .

Strawberries are not especially tender to frost , but they may be damaged if the temperature falls below about 18 degrees Fahrenheit during a late bounce freeze . If the weather turns cold , mulch around the young plants with 2 to 4 inches of straw to protect them .

References