Everbearing strawberries offer multiple harvests, unlike June-bearing varieties. Achieving consistent, abundant yields relies on providing the right nutrients at appropriate times. Proper fertilization ensures healthy plant development and maximizes fruit production.
Understanding Everbearing Strawberry Nutrient Needs
Strawberry plants, including everbearing varieties, require a balanced supply of macro and micronutrients for optimal growth and fruiting. The primary macronutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), often represented as an NPK ratio on fertilizer labels. Nitrogen promotes lush vegetative growth, contributing to healthy leaves and runners. Phosphorus supports root development, flowering, and fruiting, while potassium is essential for overall plant vigor, disease resistance, and fruit quality, potentially even making berries sweeter.
The plant’s growth cycle dictates nutrient demands. Higher nitrogen benefits initial establishment and vegetative growth. As plants flower and fruit, they need more phosphorus and potassium for berry development. A slightly acidic soil pH (5.3-6.5) is also important, influencing nutrient availability.
Optimal Fertilization Timings for Everbearing Strawberries
Everbearing strawberries need more frequent fertilization than June-bearing types due to continuous fruiting. Fertilizing at key stages supports ongoing production, helping plants sustain multiple flushes of flowers and fruit.
Apply fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges to boost vegetative development. This helps plants recover from dormancy and prepare for the first fruiting. Established plants can use a balanced NPK fertilizer.
During the active fruiting season (typically summer), periodic fertilization is beneficial. Apply after the first major berry flush, or every four to six weeks. This sustained feeding supports continuous flower and fruit production. Container-grown plants may need more frequent feeding (e.g., every two weeks with a water-based product) due to nutrient leaching.
A final application in late summer or early fall, after the last significant harvest, helps plants build reserves for the next season. This supports root development and overall plant health for a stronger start next spring. Avoid late-season nitrogen, which can stimulate new growth vulnerable to frost damage.
Selecting and Applying Fertilizer
Choose fertilizer based on plant needs and product form. Balanced NPK fertilizers (e.g., 10-10-10 or 12-12-12) are generally suitable, providing essential nutrients. Formulations for tomatoes or berries are also effective, often containing higher phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium beneficial for fruit development.
Both organic and synthetic fertilizers are available. Organic options, from natural sources like compost or manure, release nutrients slowly as microbes break them down. This reduces over-fertilization risk and improves soil structure. Synthetic fertilizers offer a rapid nutrient boost as nutrients are immediately available. However, they may need more frequent application and carry a higher risk of “fertilizer burn” if applied improperly.
Fertilizers come in granular and liquid forms. Granular types provide slow, steady nutrient release for long-term feeding, typically broadcast around plant bases and scratched into the soil. Liquid fertilizers, being water-soluble, offer immediate nutrient uptake, often preferred for container plants or quickly addressing deficiencies. Apply with a watering can or sprayer, avoiding foliage in direct sun. Always follow product label instructions to prevent over-application.
Best Practices for Fertilizing Everbearing Strawberries
Successful fertilization begins with understanding your soil. A soil test before planting and periodically thereafter provides insights into nutrient levels and pH. This analysis helps tailor fertilizer applications, addressing specific deficiencies and avoiding unnecessary nutrient buildup. Soil tests are recommended at least a year before planting to allow time for pH adjustments.
Observing plant health can indicate nutrient imbalances. Yellowing leaves may suggest nitrogen deficiency. Purple leaves can signal phosphorus deficiency, and browning leaf margins might indicate a lack of potassium. However, visual symptoms are not always definitive; tissue sampling offers a more reliable assessment.
Over-fertilization can harm strawberry plants, causing brown leaf tips, stunted growth, or excessive foliage with little fruit. This “fertilizer burn” results from excess salt accumulation. If suspected, flush the soil with ample water to dilute and wash away excess salts.
Consistent watering is important, especially after applying granular fertilizers, to dissolve nutrients and make them available to roots. Water is crucial for nutrient uptake; waterlogged soil reduces oxygen, hindering absorption. Ensure adequate soil moisture without overwatering for effective nutrient absorption and overall plant health.