Are strawberries easy to grow in Colorado?

Strawberries do well in Colorado. “We plant strawberries a lot because they’re a low-maintenance, easy crop,” says Jessi Burg, owner of Denver-based Pears to Perennials.

Can you grow strawberries in CO?

Strawberries are classified as June bearing, everbearing or day neutral. They should receive full sun at least eight hours every day. They adapt to nearly all areas of Colorado, even high elevations.

How long does it take for strawberries to bear fruit?

For June-bearing varieties it takes about four weeks from plants flowering to picking fruit. Day neutral and ever-bearing types begin flowering around the same time in the spring and take about the same time between flowering and harvest. The difference is that they keep flowering through the summer months.

Where do strawberries grow best?

In-ground gardens, raised beds, and containers are all excellent growing areas. Give strawberries room for runners by planting them 18 inches apart. Strawberries can be grown in a variety of ways, but make sure they get 8 or more hours of sun and are planted in slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.8.

Do you water strawberries in the winter?

Strawberry plants require water over the winter, however. So, be sure to check the soil moisture levels. If the soil drys completely out, the plants will die. If the soil stays soggy, they will probably die as well.

How many times a year do strawberries fruit?

They are classified into early, mid-season and late varieties. Everbearing strawberries produce three periods of flowers and fruit during the spring, summer and fall. Everbearers do not produce many runners. Day neutral strawberries will produce fruit throughout the growing season.

Can you eat first year strawberries?

In the first year, pick off blossoms to discourage strawberry plants from fruiting. If not allowed to bear fruit, they will spend their food reserves on developing healthy roots instead, which is a good thing. The yields will be much greater in the second year.

What month is best to plant strawberries?

spring
Strawberries are best planted in the spring, as early as several weeks before the last frost date. By selecting a range of strawberry varieties you can spread your harvest from late spring through to early fall.

How many strawberries can I plant for a family of 4?

Day-neutral and ever-bearing strawberries are less productive, but may be more practical if you have limited space or wish to extend your harvest over a longer period. Allow approximately 50 percent more plants, perhaps 14 to 16 for a family of four depending how prolific the individual cultivar is.

How many years does a strawberry plant last?

Strawberry plants can produce fruit for up to four or five years. However, the crop yield mahy reduce dramatically after the first two or three years due to disease, so we recommend buying a new plant at that time.

How much space does a strawberry plant need?

18 to 24 inches apart
The type of strawberry determines plant spacing. June-bearing strawberries should be planted 18 to 24 inches apart in rows spaced 4 feet apart. Runners will develop and root freely to form a matted row about 2 feet wide. Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries are typically planted in beds consisting of 2 or 3 rows.