The Essential Watering Tip You Should Know For Thriving Strawberry Plants

Nothing says spring like a juicy, ripe strawberry. Thats what makes growing and caring for strawberry plants so rewarding. However, if you've ever found yourself looking at your homegrown strawberries and thinking they fall a bit short of your expectations, it might be time to look at your watering habits. If you want juicy strawberries, your plants will need between 1 and 2 inches of water each week. While your plants are getting established, 1 inch will be enough, but when your plants are flowering and starting to bear fruit, they will need a bit more.

Of course, depending on how much rain you get, it can be hard to tell exactly how much water your strawberries are getting. Additionally, your soil can also impact just how much moisture your strawberries are able to absorb. Soggy soil isn't good for your strawberries either, and can lead to fungal problems and root rot. Because of this, it's crucial to walk the fine line between underwatering and overwatering.

Generally speaking, watering your strawberries once to three times per week should suffice, but the ideal timing will depend on another key variable: your soil. Sandy soil will dry out quickly, but plants in rich, loamy soil may be able to last up to a week without watering. Strawberry plants will begin to wilt when experiencing drought. Look for foliage that is pale, brown, or yellow. Anytime you see these signs, it's probably time to water. Leaves with dying tips is also a tell-tale sign of stress. If your plants are showing these signs, the soil is also probably visibly dry. If the soil isn't dry then you may have another problem, like overwatering or disease.

There are a few easy tips that can help guide you as you try to find the right watering cadence for juicy strawberries. First, when in doubt, check the soil. Strawberries have shallow root systems, so if the first couple of inches of soil is dry, it's time to water. Also, if you're growing strawberries and you don't have space for a garden bed and have chosen a hanging planter or other container as an alternative, they are likely to need more water. They may need water two or three times a week, but don't let this turn you off of growing strawberries in pots. In fact, growing strawberries in small planters can create happier and healthier plants. Check the soil daily just to be sure your strawberries are not drying out, and you should be left with a fruitful harvest.