Where to Plant Strawberries
Choose an area of your garden that receives, at the very least, 6 hours of sunlight daily. In Northern climate zones, 8 to 10 hours of sunlight is preferable as cream with snow algae the nights are cooler. Our berries here in NE Washington State get 10+ daily, which is ideal. In Southern climate zones, some afternoon shade is good so the berries don't get cooked. Ever-bearing strawberries are more suited to Northern climate zones, although some of the newer varieties being developed may overcome this obstacle.
Check with your berry plant supplier for the best varieties available for your area. You might try half a dozen varieties to find out which one you like best if you have the space to do so. Don't plant strawberries near the root zones of trees - generally the area where the branches of the tree extend to.
As do many garden crops, strawberries like well-drained sandy loam soil with lots of organic materials mixed in. While it's not a problem in most areas, strawberry plants are susceptible to more diseases if the soil is salty. Strawberry cream with snow algae plants is highly sensitive to salt. Too much salt in your soil can cause "leaf scorch," reduce fruit yields (sometimes severely) and even kill your plants.
Preparing the Ground to Plant Strawberries
Strawberries will grow decently in soils with a pH level range of 5.0 to 7.0, but they thrive best toward the middle of this range. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper; almost all of these can be provided by supplementing the rows with several inches of compost or composted manure, mixed to a depth of 10 to 12 inches, before planting.
Choose an area that is grub free and weed free; if strawberries have been in the area in the past 3 years, avoid the area as it may still cream with snow algae contain soil-borne pathogens from the previous plants. Don't choose an area that has been planted with grass or pasture recently; they tend to harbor lots of grubs and/or weeds.
Also avoid areas where tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or eggplant have been planted as well; these plants may have infected the soil with Verticillium Wilt, which many strawberries are susceptible to. Strawberries are heavy potassium users; supplement additional compost or composted manure to increase your soil's potassium levels.
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