Prepare and Protect Your Strawberry Plants This Winter! As the temperatures begin to drop in fall, with winter looming on the horizon, let me show you exactly how to get your strawberry mother plants ready for winter to ensure maximum production the following spring. With your strawberry plants in dormancy, now is the perfect time to set them up to be winterized and prepped.
Begin by removing all the dead leaves from your mother plants. I cut mine right down to about a cm above the crown. But I also take special care not to cut any new buds that may be coming up. We live in a mild climate, so often our strawberry plants will have new shoots appearing at any given time…so just be careful! Also, remove any weeds and debris from the surrounding area. I also take the time to make sure that the crowns of the plants are ABOVE the soil level. Crowns that sink below the soil surface are subject to rot and poor production.
Next, I amend my soil, especially for the plants grown in containers. Strawberry plants are heavy producers and take a lot from the soil. I amend with things like rock dude, alfalfa meal, canola meal, rock phosphate, Epsom salts, and oyster flakes. I don’t use chemical fertilizers on the farm as I much prefer to feed my soils to feed my plants. As such, winter is the perfect time for amending because the plants are dormant, but the soil is very much alive! Just sprinkle liberally on the surface and you’re good to go!
Lastly, exposed soil is a bad word here at The Ripe Tomato. No planting is complete without proper mulching of that top layer. I only use organic mulches, preferring things like grass clippings, shredded leaves, bark, hay, or straw. I place a thick layer around the crowns. If you are in a really cold area, its permissible to spread the dry hay or straw over the crowns for protection, taking special care to uncover after the last frost the following spring.
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Strawberries are a must for every backyard gardener. Before you have any plants to prep for winter, you first must have plants to grow! Check out this refresher video on strawberry growing! https://youtu.be/upqmvFFHLw0
Mine are in my garden.i mow them over and every year I have a huge crop.i put nothing on any of my garden.and receive huge production.
Why do you have to cut the strawberry plants so there’s a few centimeters above the crown? Newbie here and would love to be informed. Thank you for such great content!
Thanks dude! This was extremely helpful and easy to understand. I have about 200 strawberry plants that I have to do this to!
Is it true that you have to replace strawberry plants every few years due to them not producing well anymore?
I have a quick question. For my strawberries, can I cut off the bottom of a milk jug to make a greenhouse? My plants are outdoors.
This rules, thank you!
Great video with lots of info! I appreciate you explaining the reasons behind each step as well!
My hubby worked in a strawberry field as a kid and said they cut off the foliage in the winter but I didn't believe him until I saw your video, thanks!
Legit thought this was Doug Benson for a minute.
This is awesome information and exactly what I was looking for. Our beds were in their second year this year and did very good but I wasn't sure what to do to max out our production for next year. We started with one 4' X 4' bed and I let it spread into another 4' X 4' bed but now I need to stop them. This will help wonderfully. Thank You for the content, well done.
I live in Seattle and hVe my strawberries in a raised box. I tried the mound method and found it difficult a haven't. I want to level the bed and put BT he strawberries to bed for the winter. Should I filled it up now and replant the plants that were on the sides of the mound? Will he grow roots and then go dormant?
I'm new to your channel love that I can repurpose my strawberries. My garden this year was aweful Beatles were so bad. I also got something that turned my leaves black. I tried many natural things and nothing helped. I don't want to use pesticides because I have dog's. Hopefully over the winter I can find a solution.
I have potted strawberries in Minnesota. Do I keep outside? Can I cover with some hay instead of grass?
Do you water these? How often do you? Or you leave them completely dry?
Awesome my number follower, very easy, and understandable love yahhh
What is Rock Dude?
Why not put a clear plastic cup over each plant?
Thank you now I know what to do good explained
do i have to do this if i bring mine inside for the winter?
Whens the best time to start to winterize them?
Do they need to be watered thru winter? Or could a container be stored in a garage and left dry?
do you leave the prepared container outside or do you take it to shelter?
I've never heard of most of these things… How do you spell them?
Love organic gardening.. I still have some questions.. Not familiar with the soul amendment but sure would like to learn.
Thank you!!
How cold are your winters? (I read not to allow dormant strawberries go below 7C.)
For the winter you cutting in 5 o 6 cm ….if you want to make professional work…..