Strawberries ripening on the plant. Barbara H. Smith © 2018 HGIC Clemson Extension Soil & Site: Strawberries are shallow-rooted and grow best in sandy loam soils that drain well, at a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Clay soils drain poorly and are difficult to manage.
- In the year prior to planting, destroy all perennial weeds.
- Improving Soil Structures and Fertility: Soil structures and fertility may be improved by incorporating organic matter like leaves, chopped straw, compost, rotted, sawdust, or grass clippings in the fall.
- Digging, rototilling, or plowing these materials into the soil in the fall, the organic material will be well decomposed by planting time in the early spring.
For more information, please refer to HGIC 1655, Soil Conditioning a Establishing a Successful Gardening Foundation, Soil Testing: Submit a soil sample for nematode assay if there is a history of plant pest nematodes in the planting area. Do not plant strawberries if sting nematodes are present.
However, strawberries are resistant to southern root-knot nematode. A soil analysis for plant nutrients and lime should also be taken several months before planting. For more information, please refer to HGIC 1652, Soil Testing, Fertilization: Before planting, amend the soil according to the recommendations of a soil test.
Add any lime amendments three to four months before planting to allow the lime’s neutralization effect to occur. Always apply lime based on the soil analysis results and till the soil to a depth of 6 inches. If new plants appear light green and do not grow well, side-dress with nitrogen about one month after planting.
- Apply 3 pounds of calcium nitrate per 100 linear feet of row.
- Always apply fertilizer to the plants when the foliage is dry, and gently sweep the plants with a broom immediately following the application.
- Alternatively, overhead watering can be used to wash the fertilizer from the leaves.
- In late winter of the second and subsequent years, broadcast 4 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer over the bed per 100 feet of row.
Planting: Two very different production systems are used in South Carolina: the matted row system and the annual hill system. In the matted row system, plants are set out in the spring of year one, and they produce fruit in the spring of year two. This system works best in Upstate South Carolina, where strawberry fruit production may continue for several years on the same plants.
The annual hill system is preferred in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain because anthracnose disease usually destroys the matted row plantings before producing fruit. In this system, plants are set out in the fall (Mid September to Mid October) and fruit the next spring. The planting is usually discarded after the crop is harvested.
Only use anthracnose resistant plants when planting the matted row system in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain. For instance, ‘Sweet Charlie’ is resistant, while ‘Chandler’ is very susceptible to anthracnose. The depth of planting for strawberry is critical.
- The crown of the plant needs to be slightly above the soil line, with the roots ¼-inch below the soil surface.
- Due to the shallow-rooted nature of strawberry plants, it is essential to avoid bending the roots, otherwise known as “J” rooting.
- Matted Row System (low input): The matted row system involves planting the mother plants 2 feet apart, the first spring, and letting runners fill the bed during the first summer.
Remove the flowers the first year so that no fruit is produced until the second year. When transplanting in the spring, the temperature should be 40 to 50 ºF; a spring frost generally will not harm new strawberry plants. If the plants arrive early and cannot be planted immediately, store them in a refrigerator.
When soil moisture conditions are ideal for planting, layout two rows that are 4 feet apart, each of the rows should be 2 feet from the edge of the bed. Set the plants 2 feet apart in the rows at the correct depth, so the base of the crown is at the soil level. Press the soil firmly around the roots and water them in.
Water is essential for establishment. Beds should be kept moist throughout this period of development. Flowers will appear a couple of weeks after the new plants begin to grow. Remove these flowers. This improves establishment and channels food reserves into the production of vigorous runners. Strawberries growing using the annual hill system. Barbara H. Smith © 2018 HGIC Clemson Extension Annual Hill System (high input): In the central and coastal regions of South Carolina (and during normal winters in western South Carolina), strawberry plants can be set in the fall and harvested the next spring.
This reduces the danger of diseases destroying the crop. The varieties Chandler and Camarosa are by far the best for the hill system, but other varieties will produce fair results. Plants are set 12 inches apart in the row and 12 inches apart between rows on beds that contain two rows. The beds should be 6 inches high at the shoulder, 8 inches high in the center, and 26 inches wide.
An aisle 22 inches wide between beds provides a place to walk. If the planting is free from anthracnose, it may live for several years and be managed as a matted row system. Set plants from Sept.15 to Nov.15. In the Coastal Plain (usually, October is the best month).
Plant earlier in the upstate (usually September is best). Freshly dug plants are planted and watered frequently for the first week after planting. Potted plants can also be used, and these require less watering to establish. After removing the plants, use a cover crop to protect the soil from erosion, capture any nutrients left over from the crop, and contribute of organic material to the soil.
For more information, please refer to HGIC 1252 Cover Crops. Watering: Strawberries require moisture during the following “critical” times:
When plants are set and during dry periods following setting Before and during harvest when berry size is developing After renovation, as needed, to encourage new runners In late August, September, and early October when fruit buds are forming for the next season’s crop.
If rainfall is insufficient during these times, water the plantings weekly to wet the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Strawberries need 1 to 1½ inches of water per week. Weeding & Mulching: During the growing season, weeds are best controlled by mulching, hand-pulling, hoeing, and tilling.
- In vigorous plantings, cut runners that grow into the aisle.
- Periodically check the planting for the development of weeds that need to be removed.
- Mulch the beds with a 1- to 2- inch layer of straw (wheat, oat, rye, pine).
- One bale will cover 100 square feet.
- Do not use grass clippings to avoid smothering the strawberry plants.
Remove the mulch in the spring when signs of new growth appear. Rake most of the mulch off the tops of the plants. The strawberry plants will grow up through the remaining mulch, which will help keep the berries from getting soiled. A good layer of mulch helps conserve moisture, slows the spread of anthracnose, and keeps the fruit clean.
- Renovation or Renewing the Planting: Matted row strawberry plantings may bear fruit for more than one season.
- Plantings may be kept for two, or possibly three to four, fruiting seasons when properly renovated.
- The main purpose of renovation is to keep plants from becoming too crowded within the beds.
- Do not attempt to renew strawberry beds infested with weeds, diseases, or insects; it is better to start over with a new planting.
To renew a planting, follow these steps:
Take a soil test and apply what the report recommends. Mow over the top of the plants to remove the leaves, using a rotary lawnmower with the blade set to 4 inches. Avoid damaging the plant’s crowns while mowing. Rake the clippings away from plants and dispose of them without damaging the crowns. Cut back rows to a 12 to 18-inch wide strip using a cultivator, rototiller, or hoe Thin the plants, leaving only the most healthy and vigorous. Plants should be about 6 inches apart in all directions.
Care After Renovation: Keep the beds weed-free and irrigate if rainfall is insufficient. Strawberries need 1 to 1½ inches of water per week. Apply 3-4 pounds of calcium nitrate per 100 feet of row between mid-August and mid-September. Remember to apply the fertilizer when the foliage is dry, and gently sweep the leaves free of fertilizer. Freshly picked, ripe, strawberries. Barbara H. Smith © 2018 HGIC Clemson Extension
Contents
Do strawberries grow well in South Carolina?
Freshly harvested strawberries ready to be enjoyed. Barbara H. Smith © 2018 HGIC Clemson Extension. Strawberries can be grown anywhere in South Carolina. They are the first fruit to ripen in the spring, and no other small fruit produces berries as quickly after planting as strawberries.
Can I plant strawberries in June in NC?
How do you grow strawberries in North Carolina? Strawberries are a perennial crop that we treat as an annual crop, meaning that we plant new plants every year. Strawberry season in North Carolina starts around the end of April and beginning of May, but we start growing the strawberries in the summer!
In July and August: we get the field and the soil ready by adding fertilizer, tilling and preparing a rich seed bed.
In September: we use a machine pulled by a tractor to make raised beds for the strawberry plants, install drip irrigation tape to water plants, and cover the beds with plastic for winter protection. In between the raised beds, we plant grass to prevent erosion and to hold nutrients.
In October: we plant plugs, which are just plants that have grown a little already, in two rows on each raised bed. There are approximately 17,500 strawberry plants per acre and at Carrigan Farms and we have about five acres of strawberries. By planting on raised beds, the plants grow faster because the black plastic retains heat and helps root growth. During the months of October and November, the plants start to grow leaves and increase in size.
In mid-November: the weather cools down in North Carolina, so that there are no more days where it is hot enough for the plants to grow and the plants become dormant. The strawberry plants remain dormant all winter long until the weather warms up in February.
In mid-March: the strawberry plants will start to flower! Each flower has the potential to become a strawberry. Strawberry blossoms are vulnerable to freezing temperatures, so when a frost is in the forecast, the farmers have to overhead irrigate the plants. As water freezes on the blossoms, heat is released. This small fraction of heat is enough to keep the blossoms alive through the frost.
In general the “critical time” for strawberry plants is between late March and the beginning of May. During that time of year, farmers in our local area pay very close attention to the weather and often have to stay up all night irrigating and monitoring the sprinklers.
In our area, Strawberry season usually begins the last week in April and lasts until about May 20th. The plants like cool nights, 50 to 55 degrees, and mild days, 72 to 76 degrees. Once the temperatures get above about 80 degrees the strawberry plant won’t make any more flowers, which means no more strawberries.
When it is strawberry season at Carrigan Farms, our strawberries are 3,000 miles fresher than at the grocery store. : How do you grow strawberries in North Carolina?
When should I plant my garden in South Carolina?
What month do you plant tomatoes in South Carolina? – Tomatoes thrive in warm, dry conditions so long as they get at least six to eight hours of sunlight every day and have access to adequate drainage. Tomatoes can’t stand being planted in soggy soil, and their roots rot if they stay there too long.
You should pick a location with easy access to water, as they will need to be watered frequently throughout the growing season. Watering plants deeply but rarely helps them develop strong root systems in preparation for the warm summer months. Any space used during the last three years to grow solanaceous crops (such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes) should be avoided.
Many pests spend the winter in the soil close to plants and will torment careless growers in the spring. Only after the final frost date in your region can planting begin. In most of South Carolina, planting time for spring crops occurs in April and May, and for autumn crops, it occurs in July and August.
Check the local area map to see when you should start planting things. You should still check the soil if you’ve found the perfect place. Since tomatoes are heavy feeders that need a steady supply of nutrients throughout the growth process, fertilization is common before and during the planting and harvesting phases.
Nutrient absorption is impaired without sufficient moisture. Drip irrigation is effective and prevents illness by not soaking the leaves. Weeds are another potential food source for tomato bugs, although they are generally disregarded. After the area has been weeded, lay mulch 3 to 4 inches thick, leaving a hand’s breadth between the mulch and the tomato plant’s stem bases.
Can strawberries grow in South America?
Brazil, Argentina and Chile are responsible for most of the South Ameri- can strawberry production, while production in Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Ecuador is less developed (Table 1). Brazil is the largest strawberry (morango) producer in South America (Table 1).
What is June vs Everbearing strawberries?
Q. What is the difference between June-bearing and ever-bearing strawberries? A. Types of strawberries are named according to their harvest time. June-bearing strawberries are the most familiar type and produce the largest fruits as well as large yields.
Ever-bearing plants produce two smaller crops, one in June and another in early fall. June-bearing varieties also produce larger numbers of runners than ever-bearing varieties. A newer type of strawberry called day-neutral produces fruit throughout the growing season. Like ever-bearing strawberries, day-neutral varieties produce smaller fruits, lower yields, and fewer runners than June-bearing varieties.
It is best to remove blooms from June-bearing varieties the first year to encourage healthy root systems and vigorous runners. Blooms from ever-bearing and day-neutral plants should be removed through June of the first year, but allow the plants to bloom and set fruit after June.
- If you want strawberries the first season, plant ever-bearing or day-neutral varieties or plant June-bearing in combination with one of the other types.
- Planting a combination of types will not change the flowering or yields of any type.
- More varieties of June-bearing plants are available than ever-bearing or day-neutral.
It is not possible to tell the difference between the types just by looking at them so be sure you know which type of strawberry you want before purchasing.
What is strawberry season in NC?
Strawberry season in North Carolina is typically from mid-April until the end of May, but every year depends on the weather and how quickly the strawberries are picked!
What zone is South Carolina?
Cold Hardiness Zones in South Carolina © 2023 South Carolina Public Radio
On Air Now Playing South Carolina Public Radio – News & Talk On Air Now Playing South Carolina Public Radio – News & Music
Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and, The U S D A cold hardiness map now comes in an interactive form – you have to prove you aren’t robot to use it, but it’s easy after that hurdle. Search U S D A interactive map then start clicking on your area of interest to make it larger.
Almost the entirety of South Carolina is zone 8 (subdivided into a and b, b is warmer) with small outlier pockets of 7 and 9. Contrast that with some western states. Idaho with mountains, valleys, prairies and such runs the gamut from zones 3 to 7. Even in South Carolina, you may have pockets of variation in your landscape – a brick wall that reflects heat, an area bordering water that has cooling winds, and of course different soil types – all those things enter into the mini-environment a plant will experience.
© 2023 South Carolina Public Radio : Cold Hardiness Zones in South Carolina
What plants grow well in the winter in South Carolina?
Winter in South Carolina – FineGardening Johanna Smith here in Aiken, South Carolina. (See a previous visit to Johanna’s garden,) After weeks of rain and warm weather, winter has finally arrived. After checking our yard for damage after the latest wind and rain event, I realized again how much I love my winter garden. 
Camellia ( japonica, Zones 7–11), my favorite, is showing off this winter with gorgeous red flowers. 
Dianthus — I have a few types—offer color, shape, and texture. 
A nandina ( domestica ‘Firepower’, I think, Zones 6–9) nestled between ‘Big Blue’ liriope ( ‘Big Blue’, Zones 5–10) and boxwood (Buxus sp., Zones 5–10) shows off its dark red leaves. 
Ligustrum shrubs ( sinense, Zones 6–10), euonymus ( fortunei, Zones 4–9), arborvitae (, Zones 4–9), two species of juniper ( spp.), grasses, and liriope creates a pleasing view with varying colors and textures. 
The blue color of this Dianthus foliage between the green grasses is a sneaky surprise. : Winter in South Carolina – FineGardening
What can you plant in the winter in South Carolina?
Collards, cabbage, and kale are grown for their tasty leaves, while broccoli and cauliflower have delicious flower buds.
What states are best for strawberries?
US Strawberry Production and Exports – There are three states that significantly contribute to strawberry production in the US: California, Florida, and North Carolina. The general peak of the California strawberry season usually starts from the third week of May through the end of June.
P.54) In Florida, strawberry volumes are generally available from November until April. Meanwhile, strawberry season in North Carolina starts in April, which should last until the end of May. (p.55) There is also a huge local demand for organic strawberries in the US. In fact, strawberries are among the top organic products consumed in U.S.
households. Strawberry consumers in the country purchased USD 334 million worth of organic strawberries in 2019, representing a 10.8% increase compared to the year-ago period. (p.26-27) In terms of pricing, organic strawberry prices are lowest during the months of May through August, when farmers in California and Florida are harvesting.
Are strawberries in season in South Carolina?
Strawberries – The freshest berries are available April through June. Like all berries, when you buy too many, freeze for later use.
What are the best strawberries to grow in a tropical climate?
‘Chandler’, ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Loran’ are three well-known heat-tolerant cultivars available in other parts of the world.