February 9, 2023
Gear Up Your Garden
It may feel like the winter weather will never let up, but planting season is just around the corner! And whether you have a green thumb or have never grown a thing in your life, this is the perfect year to gear up your garden with some new gardening know-hows.Strawberries
With Valentine’s Day coming soon and a chocolate dip recipe pinned to your fridge already, all you need are some strawberries—which, suffice to say, can be a little more involving than you might think. So, when you start this year’s garden, keep these things in mind:
- What are you looking to get out of them? Selecting a June-bearing strawberry species means one crop of berries in late spring or early summer, while an everbearing variety produces two or three batches during the summer and early autumn.
- What zone are you growing in? Some plants will only grow if given the specific geographical or environmental conditions of different land areas, known as “growing zones.” The Marinette area borders growing zones four and five.
- Does the variety pollinate on its own? Some strawberries are loners, and others are on the hunt for romance. If yours is a self-pollinator, you will grow fruit with just one plant (and with the help of bees or wind). If not, be sure to plant some company because you’ll need both males (the ones that blossom first and contain pollen) and females (the ones that produce fruit if pollinated).
- Are you ready to chase down berries? Some species are more prone to having “runners” or new strawberry offshoots. These offshoots use up precious energy and resources that would otherwise go toward the main plant’s growth or fruit production. To combat this, prune them regularly, and also consider pinching off the first batch of flowers to support a healthy bush.
- Additional considerations. It’s important that you always research the basics to raising strawberries, including soil type, moisture preference, sunlight levels, space needs, and what plants they thrive with—or don’t. Doing this can make all the difference come harvest time.
Growing Ideas
- Strawberry-Rhubarb Bed. These two plants not only taste good together—they grow well side-by-side in the garden, too! Being mindful of the special needs of both plants, be sure to set up a permanent place for them to socialize.
- Strawberry Tier Garden. Beyond just being stylish, growing strawberries in tiers makes berries easier to see (and depending on the dimensions, easier to reach). A tier garden is made up of three or more pyramid-like layers of flower boxes, usually framed by a wood or stone barrier. However, they can be any shape or size you prefer.
- Strawberry Stones. Birds love themselves some fresh, sweet berries. One way to ward these unwanted guests is to paint some stones in the likeness of fruit and place them around the bushes before a crop has grown. Our feathered friends learn not to peck too much!
The College Student Way: Alternatively, if you live in an apartment or on campus, know that you can still grow strawberries. These little berry-makers are highly adaptive to pots at least 8” wide by 6” deep. Just make sure they have a good drain hole and a sunny window, and you’re all set!