Article: Growing Strawberries for the Home Garden
Growing Strawberries at Home: Sweet Traditions, Season After Season
Strawberries are more than a fruit—they’re a memory, a ritual, and one of the most rewarding crops a home gardener can grow.
A Childhood Marked by Strawberries
Some of my sweetest childhood memories are tied to strawberries. Every year, we would visit local strawberry fields, spend the morning picking sun-ripened berries, and bring them home by the flat.
Once home, there was no waiting. The strawberries were washed, hulled, and immediately turned into homemade strawberry jam. To this day, it’s still my favorite jam. There is truly nothing like freshly baked bread with homemade strawberry jam—it tastes like summer, even in the middle of winter.
Those days taught me that growing food isn’t just about eating—it’s about tradition, preservation, and creating something that lasts far beyond the harvest.
Garden Truth
Strawberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow—but success depends on planting depth, sunlight, soil health, and protection from critters.
Preserving the Harvest
One of my favorite childhood rituals after a day of strawberry picking was coming home and immediately turning those berries into homemade strawberry jam. To this day, nothing compares to freshly baked bread spread with jam made from berries you picked yourself.
If you’re new to jam-making or want a tried-and-true recipe, Ball®’s Classic Strawberry Jam is timeless, reliable, and absolutely delicious.
- Makes: about 8 half-pints (8 oz)
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Processing Time: 10 minutes
This classic jam is perfect on biscuits, paired with peanut butter, stirred into yogurt, or even tucked into a grilled cheese for a sweet surprise.
- 5 cups crushed strawberries (about 3 lbs.)
- 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
- 6 Tbsp Ball® RealFruit™ Classic Pectin
- 7 cups granulated sugar
First, let’s prep:
Prepare a boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready for use—do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside.
Next, time to cook:
Combine strawberries and lemon juice in a 6–8 quart saucepan. Gradually stir in pectin. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, stirring constantly.
Add the entire measure of sugar, stirring to dissolve. Return to a full rolling boil and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim foam if necessary.
Next, let’s can it:
Ladle hot jam into hot jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rims, center lids, and apply bands fingertip-tight. Process jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat, remove lid, and let jars stand 5 minutes. Cool 12–24 hours and check seals.
- Vanilla Strawberry Jam: Add ½ vanilla bean (split lengthwise) to crushed strawberries. Remove before canning.
- Strawberry Balsamic Jam: Reduce lemon juice to 1 Tbsp and add 3 Tbsp high-quality balsamic vinegar.
- Lemony Strawberry Jam: Add the grated zest of 1 large lemon.
- Black Pepper Strawberry Jam: Stir in ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper just before ladling into jars.
Making jam is one of the most meaningful ways to stretch the season—turning a summer harvest into something you can enjoy, share, and remember all year long.
June-Bearing vs. Everbearing Strawberries
Understanding strawberry types is the key to planning your harvest.
- Produce one large, concentrated crop in early summer
- Excellent for preserving and jam-making
- Typically produce larger berries
- Produce multiple flushes throughout the season
- Smaller, steady harvests
- Perfect for fresh eating all summer long
For the best of both worlds, plant both types—June-bearing for abundance and everbearing for continuous snacking.
How Strawberries Grow (And Multiply)
Strawberries naturally spread by runners—long stems that send out baby plants. This makes them incredibly generous plants, but it also means they need management.
- Allow runners if you want plants to fill in and multiply
- Remove runners if you want larger berries and tidier beds
- Young plants are most productive (2–3 years is ideal)
Why They’re Called Strawberries
Strawberries earned their name because gardeners historically mulched them with straw. This practice is still one of the best things you can do for your plants today.
- Keeps fruit clean and off the soil
- Helps prevent rot and disease
- Insulates plants over winter
- Retains moisture during the growing season
Soil Requirements
Strawberries prefer soil that is rich, well-draining, and slightly acidic.
- pH: ~5.5–6.5
- Loose, well-draining soil
- High organic matter
Planting & Pruning Basics
Planting depth is everything with strawberries. The crown must sit right at soil level— too deep and it rots, too shallow and it dries out.
- Remove flowers in the first few weeks to help plants establish
- Remove dead leaves as needed for airflow
- Renovate June-bearing beds after harvest if growing traditionally
Raised Beds, Protection & Planning Ahead
Raised beds make strawberry growing easier and cleaner, and they help reduce pressure from slugs, rodents, and other critters who love strawberries as much as we do.
- Improved drainage and soil control
- Easier to net or protect from birds
- Better airflow and healthier plants
Potted Plants vs. Bare Root Strawberries
While bare root strawberries are common, they can be tricky—especially for new gardeners. The crown depth is vital, and mistakes can set plants back weeks or even kill them.
- Root systems are already developed
- Less planting stress
- Faster establishment and earlier harvests
- Much more forgiving planting window
Why Strawberries Belong in Every Home Garden
Strawberries connect us to the seasons in a way few plants can. From spring blossoms to summer harvests, to jars of jam opened in winter—they remind us that growing food is about far more than eating. It’s about memory, tradition, and joy.
Happy Gardening,
Heidi
