Winter preparation for strawberries (Japanese june bearing strawberries care) – Care for strawberry

Winter preparation for strawberries (Japanese june bearing strawberries care)

How to grow strawberries in outdoor cultivation. Last time, we planted strawberry seedlings (organic strawberry plants). It has been about a month since then. This time, we will talk about winter care for strawberries. (Strawberry plant care outdoors.) I want to prepare strawberries for dormancy and over-winter.

Planting strawberries (I planted the strawberry seedlings in mid-October)

I planted the strawberry seedlings in mid-October. This year, I planted 4 Houkou-wase strawberry plants again. (Houkou-wase strawberry is Japanese strawberry plant. This strawberry is a similar species to the june bearing strawberry of overseas.)

Strawberry care instructions. How to care for strawberries in winter? For outdoor strawberries, during winter, they are exposed to the cold for a certain period.

When strawberries are exposed to the cold, they go into a dormant state and store nutrients. In spring, they will grow strong again. The winter dormancy for strawberries is the period needed for them to bloom and produce fruit in spring.

Strawberries about one month after planting
Strawberries go dormant during winter

To make strawberries go dormant for winter, they need to be in a colder environment. So, remove the mulch from the strawberry bed. (Removing the mulch lowers the soil temperature, making it easier for strawberries to enter dormancy.)

Remove the mulch from the strawberry bed

It might seem a little harsh to expose outdoor strawberries to the severe winter cold, but it’s for their growth in spring and to harvest delicious strawberries.

If strawberries are flowering at this time, remove the flowers because it’s still too early. You should leave the flowers starting in March.

When removing the mulch near the base of the strawberries, be careful not to damage the plants.

Carefully remove the mulch from the base of the strawberry plants
Mulch removal from the strawberries is complete

Roll up and keep the removed mulch because we will use it again after the strawberry dormancy is over.

Roll up and keep the removed mulch

With this, the preparation for strawberry dormancy is complete. (Winter care of strawberry plants is complete.)

The next strawberry plant maintenance is in January. Fertilizing strawberries. Until then, we will maintain and care for the strawberry plants by removing dead leaves, buds, and flowers. (Looking after strawberry plants in winter.)

Winter preparation for strawberries is complete (Strawberry care in winter is complete)
Remove dead leaves, buds, and flowers from the strawberries

Dead leaves on strawberries can cause diseases, so remove them. Buds and flowers on strawberries should be removed in winter so the plant gets enough nutrients. Leave buds and flowers after March.

Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.

Winter preparation for strawberries (Japanese june bearing strawberries care) – Care for strawberry – YouTube