Find out if strawberries are perennials and how to keep a patch going strong through the years.
The quick answer is yes.
However, a few factors need your attention if you want to keep your strawberry patch going for years.
Credit:Jamie Hadley
Strawberries Are Perennial Plants
Strawberries are low-growing herbaceous perennials.
Many varieties are cold-hardy inUSDA Zones48, with some tolerating Zone 3 winters ifproperly prepared for the cold weather.
Growers in hot southern climates like Florida often grow strawberries as annuals because the heat beats them up.
Strawberries are categorized by how they fruit:June-bearing, everbearing, or day-neutral.
Strawberry plants will live for years but are often considered short-lived perennials because their production slows over time.
Eventually, youre better off replacing them.
The leaf petioles become horizontal, so the plant comes off as flatter.
Older leaves may change color to burgundy, and growth stops.
The plants are acclimatizing to the colder weather and preparing for dormancy.
Tips for Mulching Strawberries
Mulching strawberries is key to your plants' longevity.
Properly mulched strawberries survive the cold in good condition.
Dormant strawberries dont lose their leaves, so the mulch also prevents desiccation due to cold winter winds.
Aproperly applied mulchmimics the insulating properties of snow.
You control when you put the mulch on.
Dont trust your berry crop to the weather.
Look for dry straw that was (hopefully) not treated with chemicals prior to harvest.
Straw from wheat or oats works beautifully.
If straw isnt available, other natural materials like pine needles or shredded leaves will work.
Avoid using hay for mulch.
Hay often contains weed seed heads that can make weeding a mess the following year.
You dont need to cover them before thefirst frost.
They need time to acclimatize and be exposed during that period.
Once the soil temperature cools to 40F, its time to apply mulch.
This typically doesnt occur until late fall.
Loosely mound the straw or other mulch high enough to be about 3 inches deep after it settles.
A light wetting with the hose can help hold it in place.
Remove some of the mulch in spring, raking it into the paths between rows.
Again, soil temperature is a good guide.
Remove the straw or other mulching material when the soil temperature warms to about 40F in early spring.
Disease can also build up in a strawberry patch and affect the harvest.
Removing blossoms the first year the strawberries are planted is heartbreaking.
Properly cared-for strawberries come back year after year.
Daughter plants replace the originals as you renovate the bed.
Start a new bed the year before you rip out the old one to avoidinterrupting your strawberry harvest.
