Root Pruning: Prune roots 1/2″ to 1″ with sharp pruning shears. Let the tap water sit out on the counter over night to allow the chlorine to dissipate. Why no tap water? Tap water has chlorine which is not good tor the plant. Do not use tap water direct from the tap. Do not soak longer than overnight since plant roots need oxygen too. Plants should be transplanted within 24 to 48 hours of receiving them. If possible, continue to soak roots while transplanting. Roots should be soaked before planting a minimum of 4 to 6 hours to ensure proper hydration. Pay close attention to keeping stock cool, roots moist and protected from direct sunlight, until planted, to ensure best results.īefore Planting: Keep roots moist, cool and in the dark. Planting in containers allows control over sun exposure and temperature, allowing you to freely move the plants to more sheltered locations.When You Receive Your Shipment: Bare root plant material needs to be handled efficiently in order to promote the best health and survival rate. Be sure to select a container that is deep enough for the roots (12-15 inches or 30.5-38 cm.), water regularly, and feed each week with high potassium, low nitrogen fertilizer once they begin to flower. Lastly, when attempting to grow strawberries where temperatures climb, you can try growing the berries in a container. Final Note on Strawberry Growing in Hot Weather Maintain a watering schedule and allow drying between watering. Simply replace the plastic sheeting with 65 percent shade cloth, cover with straw or even build a fence or plant other plants nearby that will shade the berries. In the summer when temps soar, it is a good idea to shade the strawberry patch to prevent drying out or burning of foliage. If the berries are a bit white at the end, pick them anyway since they will continue to ripen for a few days once picked. Pick your strawberry bounty when the berries are uniformly red but not soft. Ventilate the covering on warm days by opening the ends and placing a tarp or blanket over it on freezing nights to retain heat.ĭuring the harvesting months of mid-winter to late spring, spread straw around the plants to keep the forming berries clean, allow air circulation and retain water. The berry plants can withstand a couple of nights of frost but no more. Once the weather cools, cover the bed with portable plastic sheeting about 4-6 mm thick, either set over a frame of half hoops or wire mesh. If not, use a commercial fertilizer that is rich in potassium and follow the directions to avoid overfeeding. If you set the plants in lots of compost, there is little likelihood they will need additional fertilizer. Twelve inches (30 cm.) of water saturation is sufficient, but then allow the soil to dry for a few days. Keep the soil uniformly moist if the leaves turn pale green, you are likely overwatering. Caring for Strawberries in Hot ConditionsĬare of the plants is of vital importance when strawberry growing in hot weather. Set strawberry plants 12 inches (30 cm.) apart to allow the runner to fill in space. Water in well and adjust the plants if they settle too much. Set the plants in compost-rich, well-draining soil, taking care not to set the crown of the start too high or it may dry out. Therefore, you may need to prevail upon friends or neighbors who have established plants to garner starts. Strawberries may be hard to come by in late summer, as nurseries do not usually carry them at that time. or 16-27 C.), so spring planting of strawberries in hot summer climates is doomed to fail. Strawberries flower and fruit in cool to warm temps (60-80 F. In the northern hemisphere, that would mean planting starts in September for harvest in January. So, the question stands, “How to grow strawberries in high heat?” When combining strawberries and hot summer climates, set the new plants late in the summer to allow time to establish during the cooler months so the berries are ripe in midwinter. Keep in mind that strawberries take four to five months of growth before they are ripe for harvest and well-established plants are the most prolific producers. The trick to growing strawberries in hot climates is to have the berries ready for picking in mid-winter, not late spring or early summer as is common in temperate zones. (29 C.) is possible with a bit of preparation and planting at the correct time of year. Strawberry growing in hot weather, where the daytime temperatures are more often than not over 85 F. Easy to grow in moderately temperate climates, there are those of us in hot areas of the country, including desert climates, that yearn for fresh strawberries plucked dewy and sweet from our own backyard.
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