By Richard Jauron, Kendall Evans
A June-bearing strawberry planting can be productive for several years if the bed is given the right care. One important task is to renovate June-bearing strawberries correctly to ensure good productivity. These tips from horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach help keep June-bearing strawberry plantings productive for many years. To have additional questions answered, contact the ISU Hortline at hortline@iastate.edu or call 515-294-3108.
How long can I expect my June-bearing strawberry planting to be productive?
June-bearing strawberry plantings, if well-maintained and renovated annually, should remain productive for four or five years.
However, poorly managed beds may be productive for only one or two years. It will be time to plant a new strawberry bed when berry size and the number of berries decline.
How can I renovate June-bearing strawberries?
Annual renovation of June-bearing strawberries helps to maximize crop yields, prolong the life of the planting and control insect and disease pests.
To start the renovation of June-bearing strawberries, mow off the leaves one inch above the crowns of the plants with a rotary mower within one week of the last harvest. Do not mow the strawberry bed after this one week period as later mowing destroys new leaf growth. To aid in disease control, rake and remove all plant debris after mowing.
June-bearing strawberries grown in two-foot-wide, matted rows should be narrowed to eight-inch-wide strips with a rototiller or hoe. When selecting the part of the row to keep, try to save the younger plants and remove the older plants from the row. If the strawberry planting has been allowed to become a solid mat, renovate the bed by creating eight-inch-wide plant strips. Space the plant strips about three feet apart.
Fertilization is the next step in renovation. Apply approximately five pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer, or a similar analysis fertilizer, every 100 feet of the row to encourage plant growth and development.
Don’t forget to water the strawberry plants during dry weather. Strawberries require one inch of water per week for adequate growth. Irrigate the planting during dry summer weather to insure optimum production next season. Irrigation during the summer months encourages runner formation and flower bud development - the flower buds on June-bearing strawberries develop in late summer and early fall.
Control weeds in the strawberry planting with shallow cultivation and hand pulling.
Some June-bearing strawberry cultivars are extremely vigorous, producing runners beyond the two-foot-wide, matted row. These runners should be placed back within the two-foot row or removed to prevent the planting from becoming a solid mat of plants.
Should everbearing and day-neutral strawberries be renovated like June-bearing strawberries?
Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries should not be renovated like June-bearings. Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries are most productive when the plants are maintained as large, single plants. Matted rows of everbearing and day-neutral strawberries are not as productive as single plants. All runners that develop on everbearing and day-neutral strawberries should be removed.
A well-maintained planting of everbearing or day-neutral strawberries should remain productive for two or three years.