Strawberry Summer on the Homestead

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Few things say “summer on the homestead” quite like the taste of a sun-warmed strawberry picked straight from the garden. If you’re looking to maximize your harvest, keep your berries cleaner, and make tending your plants easier, raised beds are the way to go.

Raised beds give strawberries the ideal growing environment.

• Better Drainage: Strawberries dislike soggy roots, and raised beds prevent waterlogging.

• Warmer Soil: Beds warm up faster in spring, encouraging early growth.

• Fewer Weeds: Less bending, easier mulching, and better weed control.

• Cleaner Berries: Fruit stays off the soil, reducing rot and slug damage.

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Best Strawberry Varieties for Raised Beds

There are three main types:

1. June-bearing – Large harvest over 2–3 weeks in early summer.

2. Ever-bearing – Two smaller harvests: one in early summer, another in late summer.

3. Day-neutral – Produce steadily throughout the growing season.

For beginners, day-neutral varieties like Albion or Seascape are reliable and flavorful.

Planting Strawberries in Raised Beds

1. Prepare the Soil – Use a mix of garden soil, compost, and sand or perlite for good drainage.

2. Spacing – Plant 12–18 inches apart, leaving room for runners.

3. Crown Position – Set plants so the crown (where leaves meet roots) is just above the soil.

4. Mulch – Straw, pine needles, or shredded leaves help retain moisture and keep berries clean.

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Caring for Your Raised-Bed Strawberries

• Water – Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Drip irrigation works wonders.

• Fertilize – Use a balanced organic fertilizer every 4–6 weeks.

• Prune Runners – Unless you want new plants, trim excess runners so energy goes to fruit.

• Protect from Birds – Use netting to keep your harvest safe. Be sure to leave tunnel ends open so the pollinators can access your blooms!

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Harvesting and Enjoying

Pick berries when they’re fully red, ideally in the morning when they’re cool and firm. Avoid washing them until you’re ready to eat to keep them fresh longer.

Overwintering Your Strawberry Plants

In colder climates, cover beds with straw mulch after the first frost to protect crowns from freezing. Remove in early spring when growth resumes.

The next spring and thereafter...

After the last chance of frost in the spring, you can clean out the over-wintered straw and replace it. While doing so, you may see strands coming off the original crowns. These are called runners and are great for increasing your strawberry plants! Lay the runners in a way that they grow away from the parent plant. Once the runner has taken root in the soil, you need to snip the runner from the parent plant. Congratulations! you now have a new strawberry plant!

Most strawberry varieties will have a low harvest the first year. This is because the plant is primarily focused on creating a good root system. The next year, the plant will focus on fruiting. Some varieties, like June-bearing, tend to die off after a few years, which is way helping the runners get established is important!

Now that you have the basics, you can experiment and find out what works best for you! Happy harvesting and stay humble!