Do Strawberry Plants Come Back After Winter?
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Strawberries are the ultimate summer delight. Nothing tastes better than biting into fresh strawberries on a hot summer day. The best part is that if you have your own plant, you will be able to enjoy your own harvest year after year! But most strawberry planters often want to know: do strawberry plants come back after winter?
Yes, strawberry plants do come back after winter! Typically, they belong to the golden days of summer. So, if you care for them properly during the winter, they will definitely repay you by coming back!
Now, to make your strawberries rejuvenate after the winter, you need to know what to do and how to care for them. You must have a clear concept of strawberry horticulture and all its associated facts. It would also help if you learned how to take care of them during the winter months. So, to have a brief overview of all these facts, please read the entire article.
Do Strawberry Plants Come Back Every Year?
Basically, strawberry plants are perennial plants. That is to say, they will grow every year and come back in the summer. But if they are not cared for properly, then you may lose your precious plants way ahead of time!
Some people are scared of cultivating strawberries because of a common myth that strawberries do not come back. Actually, it will depend to a large extent on the soil and weather conditions of the given area. However, in almost all cases, strawberries do come back. So, it’s time to breathe away the myth!
The Period Of Dormancy
Every plant has a period of dormancy. It is the time during which a plant produces all the essential micronutrients and macronutrients for its growth. Basically, inside the seed, there is an endosperm that is responsible for this. So, until the endosperm is ready, the kernel will continue to live its life of dormancy!
Also, besides the internal growth factors, some external factors like proper care and maintenance of a strawberry plant, clearing out the weeds, cleaning the mulch, proper antibacterial care, etc., are very important.
All these factors will determine whether your plant will come back or not. If you care enough, they are sure to do so! So, after this period of dormancy, the strawberry plants start to grow with all the necessary nutrients in hand. Any deficiency at this stage will affect the production of future strawberries.
Strawberries Are Perennials
Basically, perennials plants give off fruits and seeds once every year. There are so many varieties of plants that belong to this category. However, strawberry is one classic example.
In many parts of the world, strawberries can’t grow because of the weather conditions or because the soil doesn’t suit them. The pH level, the soil balance, composition, use of manure, etc., have a great role in deciding the production. Naturally, any plant will need its own convenient environment to give off the best results.
However, strawberries grow best in cold climates rather than temperate ones. They also require a good deal of humidity. Whatever the weather conditions, most strawberry plants will grow fruits once every year. They come back after winter as the gifts of summer!
Even in some temperate areas now, strawberries are cultivated successfully. Some genetic modifications and creating favorable weather conditions have made this possible. Even in these areas, strawberries do come back once a year after winter.
Do Strawberries Grow In Summer Only?
To be fair, winter days are rough, cold, and dry. The soil dries out, and the weather is not favorable for any kind of fruiting plant. So, the preferable time for strawberries is during the summertime.
The best time to plant the seeds is during the later part of summer. The environment is not too hot, and the soil remains cool and moist. You can plant comfortably. The best temperature is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This amount of warmth is required for strawberries to let out and strengthen their roots.
After this, the winter days can get chilly and dry. It is pretty normal for the strawberry plants to dry out if proper care is not taken. It would be best if you had some special measures to winterize your strawberry plants during this time. Basically, this is the preparation for your strawberries to grow well in summer!
During the winter, the plants go through their latent stage, or stage of dormancy. The cotyledons have to grow well and be prepared for germination. But if you have a full-grown plant already, this time is necessary for the roots and shoots to spread out and be at their fullest energy levels.
Essentially, strawberries have been found to grow in summer only. Other times of the year, you can enjoy preserved and stored strawberries whenever you want to. But the real deal is during the hot summer days!
Of course, there are artificial methods of growing strawberries in the winter. But that process is very much expensive and might not be within the average person’s budget and time.
How To Care For Strawberry Plants During The Winter?
Winter is a special time of the year. So, during the chilly times, you need to take some drastic measures too to control the weather conditions for your tender strawberries. Hence, on your part, you need to know how to care for them.
So, here are a few basic things that you can try out for yourself. Implementing these will greatly assist you in reviving your strawberry plants after the winter! Hence, please read the next part to find out in detail.
Cleaning Out The Mulch
Actually, mulch is laid out to protect the soil bed from all kinds of organisms and dirt. Usually, before the fruiting season, a layer of straw or hay mixed with other kinds of mulch materials is given over the soil bed and around the plant base. Some people even choose inorganic products like glass pieces, marbles, etc., to make up mulch.
Mulches are the storehouse of all kinds of organic and inorganic nutrients. So, naturally, mulches attract more bacteria and other microbes, pests, etc. Therefore, you must clean out the mulch regularly, and fresh batches should be used. Otherwise, the plants may get infected, and the infection may spread in a dangerous way. Eventually, the plant may die!
Cutting And Trimming
New growth occurs when you correctly prune the old leaves and shoot. People often think that cutting or trimming may hamper the growth potential of plants. But this is a complete misconception. To be fair, when you cut down the dead parts, you are making space for new growth. It stimulates the apical buds to divide and create new growth.
Most importantly, it is necessary to trim the plant to about three inches above the ground. It will help concentrate all the sunlight, oxygen, and other nutrients at the plant’s center. At the center, there are the apical bud and the axillary bud. They need the energy to continue the ongoing mitosis process, which will give rise to future shoots and roots.
Cleaning Out Weeds
It is essential to clean out the weeds and grass around the plant. Dead leaves, roots, etc., accumulate around the plant base during winter. These dead collections can ruin the soil composition. Ultimately, this can hamper the growth of the plants.
So, cleaning the weeds and dirt is essential for strawberry plants to grow. To stimulate the growth of the plant, you need to do the basic care on your own. Usually, small weeds can attract insects and interfere with the growth potential of the plant because they take a portion of the plant’s nutrition. So, it is necessary to clear the weeds whenever possible.
Fertilizers And Insecticides
Fertilizers are essential for the nourishment of the soil. The use of natural manure or artificial phosphates, sulfates, nitrates, etc., can enhance the quality and production to a large extent. Also, the amount required is not much, and using a little bit can improve the quality of manifolds.
Besides, you must regularly use insecticides to prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, pests, etc. Just spray on a little amount every once in a while. Fruiting plants can attract lots of insects and pests because of the sugar content in their fruits and stems. So, naturally, strawberry plants are vulnerable to pest attacks.
Debugging and the use of insecticides can help you control these to a great extent. The use of manure can sometimes increase the risk of pest attacks. Mitigate this by replacing natural cow dung with other artificial fertilizers. It will help you get good quality soil on the one hand and do some level of pest control on the other.