In gardening practice, we distinguish three planting terms for strawberries: spring, summer, and autumn. It’s hard to say which one is the best, as each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Spring Planting:
The most popular is spring planting after the frosts have ceased, usually from mid-March to the end of May. Plants planted at this time benefit from:
- Large water reserves in the soil, helping them take root without losses.
- They quickly form a strong root system, showing rapid growth.
While the first crop from spring-planted strawberries may not be abundant, the plants have plenty of time until autumn to:
- Root deeply and
- Produce a multitude of flower bud initiations, which will determine the yield in the following year.
Summer Planting:
Summer planting (July or August) is also highly recommended. Key benefits include:
- Like spring planting, plants have enough time until autumn to establish a strong root system.
- They also generate many flower bud initiations, typically resulting in a full fruit yield the following year.
Additionally, the period requiring maintenance treatments is shorter compared to spring planting. However, summer planting has its drawbacks:
- There is often a shortage of strongly rooted seedlings during this time, leading to higher prices.
- Summer can bring a deficit of water in the soil, necessitating regular irrigation of the plants.
To solve this, we recommend purchasing potted seedlings, which are available at our farm.
In July, we usually offer large quantities of well-rooted seedlings in a full range of varieties.
Autumn Planting:
Autumn planting (September, October) is also common. The main advantage of this period is the availability of strongly rooted seedlings in large quantities. However, late autumn planting comes with a higher risk of the plants freezing during winter, especially for strawberry varieties from warmer regions than Central Europe.
To protect the plants, we recommend using white agrotextile, which will help them survive the winter months.
