Berry Good

Strawberries are an easy perennial favorite for Spring planting here in the desert. 

Whether grown in containers like these strawberry pots, or hanging baskets, or in the ground you're sure to be rewarded for your efforts.

I know what you're thinking... you tried to grow strawberries one time and you only got a few berries and then nothing, ever, again.

Well consider that maybe you were expecting berries when berries weren't to be expected. The keys is timing. Knowing when certain varieties are going to give up the goods.

There are three types of strawberry plants and numerous varieties withing each type.

Each type will flower and produce fruit at different times during the year:

  The Everbearer - These plants will bud in the summer to produce fall fruit, and then will bud again in the fall to produce spring fruit.

  The Junebearer - These varieties produce buds in the fall, followed by flowers and fruit in the spring and runners (that will eventually be daughter plants) in the summer.

 The Day-Neutral - These are the least temperamental when it comes to day length. As long as the temperatures are between 35-85 then this plant will produce flowers, fruit and runners.

Most desert gardeners seem to be happy with the combo of beauty and abundant fruit with those everbearers like Pretty-in-Pink, Berri Baskets or Quinault.

A few things to consider when planting in the ground:

• Pick a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.
• Add compost to your soil at a 50/50 ratio of native soil to compost.
• Space your plants at least 20"apart and 4' between rows to accommodate the runners
• Increase water when flowers appear 
• Mulch the beds to keep moisture in and weeds down.

Things to consider when planting in pots:

• Seal your pot with a clay pot sealer if you want to use terracotta. These clay pots dry out very quickly here in our desert and you'll need all the help you can get come August.
• Use a potting soil. If it's growing in a pot, use potting soil. Simple.
• Before filling your pot with soil, place a tall water bottle (slightly taller than your pot) or piece of pvc pipe drilled with many tiny holes all around it, into the center of your pot. Then fill the pot with soil all around the pipe. When you go to water the pot, fill the bottle or pvc first, all the way to the top, and then water the pockets. (If you've ever had an issue with bad water distribution in your strawberry pots, this will help immensely!)

Check out our new organic varieties!