03 Jun How To Grow Strawberries In Florissant, Missouri
The only thing better than the plump, red strawberries that you can buy at the store are the ones that you grow in your own backyard. Imagine how amazing it would be to be able to walk out your door and pick your own strawberries at any given time.
Fortunately, growing strawberries in the Florissant, Missouri area is easier than you might think. Although it can take a little bit of time to get your strawberry patch established, once it is growing, you should be able to get a great harvest each and every year.
Your best bet is to plant the strawberries in the spring. They do best in soil that is a bit on the acidic side and that does a great job of retaining moisture. After you plant the strawberries, make sure that you give them plenty of water while they are getting established.
During the first year, you should avoid harvesting any berries from the plant. Instead, pinch off any flower blossoms when they appear. This will allow the plant to focus its energy on developing its root system so that it is better able to withstand temperature fluctuations, disease, and other challenges in the future. Strong roots will also help the plants produce more berries.
During the winter, mulch the plants to protect them from the cold. The following spring, after you remove the mulch, they should respond well to the warmer temperatures and sunlight, quickly perking up and starting to produce fruit.
At this point, you should be able to begin harvesting the berries that they produce. Pick the berries after they become ripe but before they have a chance to mold. If you do find any berries that have mold on them, throw them away so that the mold doesn’t have a chance to spread to the rest of the berries on the plant.
Growing strawberries in Florissant, Missouri can be a lot of fun. As long as you don’t mind having to wait a year before your strawberry patch is established, it is well worth the effort. Once your strawberries are growing and have strong root systems, you should be able to harvest berries for many years to come.
By taking proper care of the plants, they should come back year after year, providing you with a practically endless supply of delicious homegrown strawberries. Once you taste berries that you have grown on your own, you will never settle for store-bought berries again.