Winter Care for Strawberries

Strawberries are a cool weather fruit, and their quality and the quantity depends upon their climatic conditions. A strawberry is different from other plants in its propagation method. Its crown is perennial, while the roots are annual. Confused? Well, so was I! Let me explain. Strawberry plants are stoloniferous, meaning they grow, or are propagated by the stolons or runners, that sprout from their crown and are sent down to the soil to shoot roots. Its leaves are trifoliate and small. The plant bears small white colored flowers, and the time taken by the flowers to mature into fruits completely depends upon the air and soil temperature. Plant growth speeds with a higher temperature and reduces when it is lower. During winters, the plant does not bear fruits, but its health matters to ensure next years yield.

How to Care for Strawberry Plants During Winters

The strawberry plant stops growing once the temperatures drops below 40° Fahrenheit. Temperatures below 20° Fahrenheit damage the strawberry plants roots and crowns, thus, making winter gardening a very important factor for strawberry plant care. In fact, the real threat to this plant, more than pests, is cold winter temperatures, and repeated thawing and freezing of the soil through the winters. Primarily, there are only two ways one can ensure strawberry plant care for winters; reduced watering and heavy mulching.

Watering: Strawberries thrive on moist and well drained soils. Soil moisture is needed because water is required to maintain moisture in the fruit throughout its development and maturity. A parched plant will bear fruits that do not reach their true size. However, during winters, watering should be minimal, as it can send a chill down to the roots and kill them.

Mulching: Mulching is the only natural way to ensure that the soil and the plant remain warm and frost free. Allow the strawberry plant to acclimatize to the fall in temperature before you begin the process of mulching. Ideally one should start mulching before temperatures drop below twenty degrees; October to November depending upon the zone you live in. The timing of mulch is important, an early application will not give the plant time to get used to the fall in temperature, whereas if applied too late, the plant's crown will get damaged, affecting next years crop and making all your winter care of strawberries efforts go down the drain.

There are many types of mulch one can choose from. Experienced gardeners recommend the use of weed free straw or chopped cornstalks as mulching material. Avoid mulching with fresh fallen leaves, as they tend to not only smother new growth, but also trap air and create space for ice to form. The layer of the mulch should be at least three to five inches thick. Mulch will protect plants and soil from cold and variations in temperature. Mulch should be forked out when the strawberry plants show signs of growth in the spring. Mulch should be removed between March to April, once aging depending upon the zone you live in. Pull out all weeds, and water and use fertilizers for strawberries as per the requirement.

Provided you take good care of your strawberry plants in the winters, you can rest assured that you will never be out of stock of these luscious plumply, tasty fruits!