What are the secrets of growing good strawberries?
So far, they’ve escaped me! A: Location, location, location! Choose a well-drained, weed-free site that gets at least 8 hours of sun daily. Raised beds and containers work great. Then, select varieties that are winter-hardy for your area from the UI’s list of recommended strawberries (Bulletin 739, Berry Varieties for Idaho). Keep rows no wider than 12 to 18 inches and thin plants to 6 inches apart. To keep fruit clean and reduce weeds, spread clean straw under the plants and in alleys. If possible, use drip irrigation and keep soil moist but not waterlogged. If you must use sprinklers, water early in the morning to reduce the threat of diseases. After several hard frosts, mulch your strawberry beds with 6 inches of weed-free straw. Remove the straw in early spring before new growth starts.
