flowers during their very first year in the ground. It is hard to do, but this forces the plant to spend all its energy growing a massive root system instead of making a few berries. The result will be a huge, heavy harvest in the second year.
Manage the Runners: Strawberry plants reproduce by sending out long, creeping stems called “runners” to create baby plants. If you let the plant make too many babies, it will become exhausted and produce very few berries. Snip off most of these runners with sharp scissors to keep the mother plant focused on making fruit.
Defend Against Pests: Birds, squirrels, and bugs love strawberries as much as humans do. Cover your garden beds or pots with fine bird netting as soon as the green fruit starts turning white and pink.
Rotate and Replace: Strawberry plants naturally lose their energy and produce fewer berries after 3 or 4 years. Plan ahead by letting a few runners take root in year three to replace the older plants, and always move your strawberry patch to a new section of the garden every few years to avoid diseases building up in the soil.
How to Grow Better Strawberries: Proven Tips and Tricks
