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Site Selection. Strawberries prefer well-drained soils that contain plenty of organic matter. They also need at least 8 hours of sunlight per day to produce well, so they should be planted in full sun; although the plants can tolerate partial shade, they’re unlikely to bear well if they don’t get enough light.
How long does it take to grow strawberries in Michigan?
Most require two years in the ground to produce fruit. Spring-planted ever bearers produce a heavy crop over a period of weeks with a scattering of berries the rest of the season. Standard varieties may ripen very early, early, midseason or late summer.
Do strawberries grow well in Michigan?
According to Michigan State University Extension, strawberries are the most popular small fruit for backyard growers and are well adapted to most areas in Michigan and the United States. A 100-foot row of plants can produce more than 100 quarts of fruit if managed well.
Is it too late to plant strawberries in Michigan?
Master Gardener Steve Albert recommends planting June-bearing strawberries in late summer or fall. The June-bearers will produce fruit in the following spring and early summer. Some everbearing cultivars can be planted as late as early spring for fall fruiting.
What is the best way to grow strawberries?
Strawberries like fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and do best in full sun, but will tolerate some shade. Alpine strawberries thrive in shade. Avoid planting in sites prone to frost, which can damage the flowers, or in exposed locations, which make it hard for pollinating insects to reach the flowers.
Where do strawberries grow in Michigan?
While strawberries are grown in every Michigan County, Berrien, Leelanau and Van Buren are Michigan’s largest strawberry producing counties. Jewel, Honeoye and Allstar are the most prevalent commercially grown varieties and account for nearly 60 percent of all land in strawberries in the state.
What kind of strawberries grow in Michigan?
There are two types of Michigan strawberries: June-bearing and everbearing. June-bearing strawberries are easily adapted to the backyard fruit grower. They produce fruit for 3 to 4 weeks beginning in mid-June. They begin to form flower buds in the fall when the days get shorter.
Do strawberries come back every year in Michigan?
Strawberries (Fragaria ananassa) are productive little plants that, given good growing conditions, will produce prolifically year after year.
Are June bearing or everbearing strawberries better?
June-bearing plants grow fastest after their fruit ripens. The Tristar and Tribute everbearing cultivars, for example, produce smaller berries which are of only fair dessert quality but are generally considered good for freezing.
Will strawberries grow in partial shade?
Strawberry plants don’t do well in full shade, but so long as they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day they will grow in areas of partial shade. Strawberries planted in partial shade should be planted in early spring to ensure that they get sufficient sunlight while growing in late spring and summer.
How long does it take for a strawberry plant to produce fruit?
Generally, strawberry plants do take about a year to really begin producing good fruit.
What month do you plant strawberries?
Strawberries are best planted in the spring, as early as several weeks before the last frost date. By selecting a range of strawberry varieties you can spread your harvest from late spring through to early fall.
Can you eat first year strawberries?
In the first year, pick off blossoms to discourage strawberry plants from fruiting. If not allowed to bear fruit, they will spend their food reserves on developing healthy roots instead, which is a good thing. The yields will be much greater in the second year.
Do strawberries grow best in sun or shade?
Strawberries need at least 8 hours of full sun each day, and they prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8.
Do strawberries come back every year?
Strawberries are perennials — they go through a period of dormancy in the winter and return each spring ready to go again. Virtually every planting zone is conducive for growing strawberry plants at least a few months out of the year.
What is an everbearing strawberry?
Everbearing strawberries produce three periods of flowers and fruit during the spring, summer and fall. Day neutral strawberries will produce fruit throughout the growing season. These strawberries produce just a few runners. Everbearing and day neutral strawberries are great for gardeners who have limited space.
What is a June bearing strawberry?
June-bearing strawberries form flower buds in late summer to early fall when day length is less than 10 hours per day. These flowers bloom in early spring, then produce an abundance of large, juicy berries in spring.
How many strawberries does Michigan produce?
Michigan grows strawberries for both fresh and processed uses. In 2009, Michigan produced 43,000 tons of fresh strawberries and 3,000 tons of processed strawberries, generating $6.6 million.
What is the difference between day neutral and everbearing strawberries?
Everbearing is an old term for strawberries that fruited throughout the summer, but modern day-neutral cultivars are more consistent producing berries than the older ‘everbearing’ cultivars, which tended to produce fruit early in summer and then again late in the summer with a big non-bearing gap in between.
Are all star strawberries perennial?
Allstar Strawberry (Fragaria) is a fruit-producing machine. Even better, Allstar is a perennial in zones 4 through 9, so it will remain partly green through winter and come back in spring to bear fruit again. Allstar Strawberry is called a June Bearer variety, because the fruit matures in a few weeks.
How do you grow strawberries from seeds?
Keep them indoors in a well-lighted room and in direct sunlight, if possible. In two to three weeks, the strawberry seeds should germinate. Keep the soil moist well-lighted. Warmth can help the seeds germinate, so the top of a refrigerator or on a bottom heat pad can be suitable places for germination.
