Fruits & Nuts - Strawberry
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  (July) How do I preserve strawberry plants. Mine did not produce well this year, so I decided to pull them up. When I started, I noticed that they had a good root system, so I thought I should keep them. Can I save them until next year? How can I help them grow and produce better strawberries?

  Every year you should renovate your strawberry beds after they finish producing. If you don't, they can get matted too densely and then production goes down. You are a little late to renovate now, but if you have already started pulling them out, you can divide them and replant. Water, mulch and lightly fertilize and see what happens. You could also replant this fall with new plants and still get an early spring crop.

  When do I plant strawberry plants and what type of soil is needed? Do I use raised beds or not? Also, what type of plants do I need to buy? Will I get fruit this spring or will I have to wait for another year? I live in Benton and want very much to have sweet and juicy strawberries for as long as they will produce. Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon. (Benton)

  As soon as you can find strawberries is the time to plant-typically late February through April. Drainage is critical, so raised beds work well if that is a problem. They also do well in soil amended with organic matter. I prefer what is called "June-bearing" (actually May in Arkansas) strawberries. They produce for about 4 - 6 weeks each year, but you get more berries at one time than you do with the so-called everbearing plants. We recommend removing the flower buds the first year of growth, to get well-established plants, and therefore more production the next year.

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