A Sweet Journey: Strawberry Tips

     

Do you see my decoy strawberries? 😂

    In life, the simplest things often teach us the most useful lessons. Little did I know that growing my first strawberry would be more than just a delightful gardening experience; it became a transformative journey of personal growth. I wish I could say this particular strawberry plant was the first one to grow and thrive in my first house, but it actually took me 3 years to get it right.

    Trial and error, as most gardeners probably know, is what it took to finally get a strawberry plant to thrive in my quaint little backyard garden paradise. The excitement from not only me, but also from my children as they got to pick their very first bright red strawberry, made every struggle from the past 3 years worth it. Growing this strawberry became an embodiment of resilience, reminding me that hurdles are merely stepping stones on the path to personal development. Each day that I spent in my garden came with many obstacles; weeding, watering, pest control (and children control from picking the blossoms), balanced hydration, perfect sunlight, fertilizing, and protection from the elements like wonderful spring blizzards. 

    The smallest achievement revealed to me the significance of celebrating even the smallest victories in life. Every triumph, no matter how minor, contributes to our growth and allows us to acknowledge our progress. Although my journey began with a single strawberry plant (thank you to my friends and family for sharing!), I discovered that it held much more than the promise of a tasty treat. Let us all remember that it is in the simplest of experiences that we find the most profound teachings and opportunities for growth, and I can only hope that my children have learned similar lessons from my journey. Here's to cultivating not only strawberries but also the garden within ourselves! 😉

P.S. Here are some strawberry growing tips I have learned from the past 3 years!

• For brand new strawberry plants: pluck off all the blossoms and runners. This will allow the roots to grow deeper and produce bigger and better strawberries for the next season.
• Do not crowd your strawberries: 4-6 per sq ft. I would not do more than 4 personally.
• If you are container planting your strawberries, they must be VERY insulated prior to winter if you want them to come back. The frost and cold temperatures will not be kind.
• Even if your strawberry plants are in the ground, adding a layer of insulation on top will help to insulate from cold temperatures. You can use straw, leaves, mulch, etc. You can remove it after the last frost.
• Keep strawberry plants consistently moist. Not waterlogged, but do not allow soil to dry completely.
• If you have any friends/family with strawberries gardens, ask if you can have a couple! This will save you time and money. Plant in the spring for best results!