Strawberries

Strawberries are moderate feeders with a fertilization strategy that depends heavily on whether you are growing June-bearing, everbearing, or day-neutral varieties. June-bearing types have a concentrated harvest window and build next year's flower buds in late summer and fall, making post-harvest fertilization the most critical application of the year. Everbearing and day-neutral varieties produce continuously and need lighter, more frequent feeding throughout the growing season. Across all types, the biggest fertilization challenge is balancing nitrogen — too much produces abundant runners and lush leaves at the expense of berries, while too little yields small, pale fruit from weak plants. Strawberries are also highly sensitive to fertilizer salt burn, especially when granular products contact wet foliage or are applied too close to the crowns. Phosphorus and potassium play crucial roles in fruit sweetness, firmness, and disease resistance, with fall applications of high-P/K fertilizer directly improving the following spring's crop. New plantings require extra attention to phosphorus for root establishment and should have blossoms removed the first season to direct energy toward strong plant establishment. Proper fertilization combined with adequate mulching is the foundation of productive strawberry beds that can remain vigorous for 3-4 years before renovation.