Strawberries ( Fragaria ananassa ) are fertile footling plant that , givengood growing condition , will produce prolifically year after class . Although the length and severity of Michigan winters , especially in the northern reaches of the state , can be a challenge to some yield crop , strawberries are n’t scare off by the cold . cultivar are available that are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture flora hardiness zone 2 to 11 , so they can handle the clime throughout Michigan .
Recommended Varieties
June - bearingstrawberry varieties bring on one great harvest of berry , commonly in mid - June in Michigan , and they typically produce more berry per season than other type of plants . Among suitable varieties of June - bearing cultivars for Michigan are " Allstar " ( Fragaria ananassa " Allstar " ) and " Jewel " ( Fragaria ananassa " Jewel " ) , both of which are hardy in USDA zone 4 to 8 , and " Cavendish " ( Fragaria ananassa " Cavendish " ) and " Annapolis " ( Fragaria ananassa " Annapolis " ) , which are hardy in USDA zona 3 to 8.Ever - bearingvarieties produce two comparatively little crops , the first in the spring and the second in the former pin ; the timing of the crops is triggered by the length of daylight hours . Day - neutralvarieties produce berries severally of mean solar day length and may produce through most of the time of year . urge cultivars for the country let in " Tribute " ( Fragaria ananassa " Tribute " ) and " Tristar " ( Fragaria ananassa " Tristar " ) , which are fearless in USDA zone 4 to 8 .
Site Selection
Strawberries preferwell - drained soilsthat arrest plenty of organic subject . They also need at least8 hours of sunlightper day to create well , so they should be planted in full Lord’s Day ; although the plants can tolerate fond tad , they ’re improbable to bear well if they do n’t get enough light .
Strawberries will also produce best if they ’re originate inslightly acidicsoil with a pH level between 5.3 and 6.5 .
Soil Preparation
strawberry mark benefit from * * logical territory moisture , * * so the soil in the planting bottom want to enfeeble well yet keep back enough wet to keep the plants ' roots from dry out . Incorporating1 to 4 in of organic compost or peat mossinto the land will help by give wet - retentive material to sandy soils that otherwise might debilitate too quickly and by loosening dense clay dirt that might keep on too much water .
Setting Plants
Plant strawberries as early in the spring as possibleso that they have plenty of clip to get established at the beginning of the season .
Strawberries must be engraft at thecorrect depthor they wo n’t grow well . If they ’re embed so shallowly that the root are exposed , the solution may dry out out , but if they ’re planted so profoundly that the crown where the leaves emerge is buried , the plant life may moulder . Place the plants so that the surface of the soil meets the midpoint of the crown . Firm the soil around the plant and water them well .
In laying out rows of plants , * * quad plants 18 to 24 inches aside , with 3 or 4 fundament between rows . * *
In a " matted row " planting organisation , plants are allowed to send out runners from which young plants grow and fill in the wrangle ; this organization operate well with June - bearing varieties . In a " James Jerome Hill " planting systems , runners are cut off and not allowed to raise new plants ; this system is most often used with ever - bearing or day - inert miscellanea .
