Growing strawberries successfully in Nebraska requires adapting to the variable climate, characterized by cold winters and hot, dry summers. Establishing a robust patch requires careful attention to the planting schedule, selecting the right cultivar, and diligent management during the first year. Following localized best practices ensures plants develop the strong root systems necessary to thrive and produce fruit reliably.
Optimal Planting Schedule for Nebraska
The timing of planting is the most impactful decision for a strawberry patch in Nebraska. The primary window for setting out bare-root crowns is early spring, typically from early April to the end of May. Planting must occur as soon as the soil is workable—thawed and no longer saturated from winter snowmelt. This early timing allows the root system to establish itself in cool, moist soil before summer heat and drought arrive.
Gardeners in Eastern Nebraska may find their soil ready in mid-April, while those in cooler, western regions may wait until early May. The exact date depends more on soil condition and the receding threat of a hard freeze than the calendar. Planting dormant bare-root plants during this period ensures the plant dedicates its first season’s energy to vegetative growth rather than fruit production. Late summer or early fall planting is also possible, allowing plants to establish roots before winter for an earlier start the following spring.
Choosing the Right Strawberry Type
Nebraska growers generally select from three types of strawberries: Junebearing, Everbearing, and Day-Neutral. Junebearing cultivars are the most widely recommended choice, producing a single, concentrated crop of large berries over a two-to-three-week period, usually in late May or June. This type focuses its energy into one major yield, often resulting in the largest total volume and fruit size.
Everbearing and Day-Neutral varieties offer a smaller, continuous harvest throughout the summer and into the fall, rather than a single large flush. Everbearing plants are suited for cooler summer nights, such as those found in Western Nebraska, where high temperatures are less likely to disrupt fruit bud initiation. Junebearing types like ‘Honeoye’ or ‘Jewel’ are the most reliable for surviving the variable Nebraska climate and producing a significant, high-quality crop.
Preparing the Planting Site
Choosing and preparing the site is paramount for long-term success, as strawberries are perennial and remain in the same location for several years. The planting area must receive full, all-day sunlight, ideally a minimum of eight hours, to encourage strong growth and high yields. The soil structure is equally important; strawberries require well-drained, sandy loam soil to prevent crown rot.
The ideal soil is slightly acidic, with a target pH range between 6.0 and 6.5, which optimizes nutrient availability for the plants. Conduct a soil test the season before planting to determine if amendments like elemental sulfur or lime are necessary to adjust the pH. Incorporating aged compost or well-rotted manure a year in advance builds the necessary organic matter content, which should be between 1 and 3 percent. The planting site must also be free of perennial weeds, which are difficult to control once the patch is established.
Essential First-Year Care
The first year after planting focuses on establishing a healthy, vigorous plant that will produce a heavy crop the following season. Immediately after planting the bare-root crowns, a thorough initial watering is necessary to settle the soil around the roots. The most important cultural practice during this establishment year is removing all flowers as soon as they appear. This redirects the plant’s energy away from fruit development and into building a robust root and crown structure.
Throughout the season, plants produce runners, which are daughter plants that root nearby. Gardeners must manage these runners according to their desired system: either allowing them to root to form a dense “matted row” or removing them entirely for a “hill system.” Preparing the plants for the Nebraska winter is mandatory for survival and future productivity. After the plants go dormant, typically following several hard frosts in late November or early December, they must be covered with a four-inch layer of clean straw or loose mulch to insulate the crowns and prevent frost heaving.