Tips to Grow Strawberries in Alberta
Once you have tasted strawberries you cultivated on your own, you will never go back to store-bought. They are sweeter, and you are assured of their freshness in each bite.
It’s a rewarding feeling to grow strawberries for personal consumption or to make jams. And yes, they can grow in Alberta. I can attest to that.
Cultivating A Strawberry Patch in Alberta
Here are some tips to get you started on planting berries in your backyard:
1. Choose the Right Varieties
Before buying the plants, you must know the types that will grow on your land. In Alberta, the best strawberry varieties are Day Neutral, Ever Bearing, and June Bearing.
2. Know Where to Plant
Your strawberry patch must be in the area of your background exposed to the sun for at least six hours. Aside from loving warm conditions, strawberries grow best in soils that are well-drained and filled with nutrients.
It’s a good idea to prepare the soil before planting. You can add compost to it to make the soil nutrient-dense.
3. Know When to Plant
In Alberta, the best months to plant strawberries are from the latter part of April until the latter part of May. This applies to Alberta places categorized as zone 2 or zone 3.
4. The Best Way to Plant
Plant the fruits in rows or hills. Place it in a manner that the crown is only within the soil’s surface. Be careful in watering; pat the soil gently to avoid the berry’s crown from getting deeper into the ground.
5. Increasing the Yield
Removing the blossoms from the plants is recommended for the first month after planting. This will ensure the plant you’re growing is strong down to the roots.
Remove plants older than four years if you have a bigger strawberry patch. They tend to decrease yield through the years, so replacing them with young plants is best.
