How to Plant Strawberries in Alberta
The ground-hugging strawberry plant produces large quantities of sweet, juicy fruit, making it the perfect addition to the backyard garden. The cool-season crop can be grown throughout Canada, including the province of Alberta. Popular varieties in Alberta include the Bounty and Kent varieties. Seedlings are available in most Albertan garden stores and nurseries and should be planted in your garden starting in April or May, according to the Government of Alberta.
Choose a location for your strawberry garden. Strawberries require full sunlight--six to seven hours of sun--and well-drained soil. The Government of Alberta suggests avoiding all low-lying areas, as the risk of frost damage is greater in such places.
- The ground-hugging strawberry plant produces large quantities of sweet, juicy fruit, making it the perfect addition to the backyard garden.
Prepare your garden. Remove any surface debris or vegetation. Use a spade and breakup the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Stir in 2 to 3 inches of aged compost to boost the dirt's nutrient levels and increase moisture retention.
Fertilize the soil. For best results, use 3.4 ounces of 20-10-10 fertilizer for every 54 square feet of gardening area, according to the Government of Alberta.
Plant the strawberry seedlings. Bury each seedling to a depth of halfway up the plant's base. Water the strawberry seedling immediately to keep it from drying out before planting another plant. Each plant should be kept apart by approximately 12 inches. If you're growing more than one row of strawberries, space each row apart by approximately 4 feet.
- Remove any surface debris or vegetation.
- Use a spade and breakup the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.
Water the strawberries twice a day. In Alberta, the government recommends a weekly water allowance of 1.18 inches per plant.
Mulch the plants in the winter. Once the temperature drops to 44 degrees Fahrenheit, cover the plants with 4 to 6 inches of weed-free straw. This helps protect the plants from Alberta's frigid winters. Remove the mulch after the lost frost date in your area has passed.
Warning
Avoid planting strawberries in areas that have raised tomatoes, peppers, potatoes or raspberries within the past year. Such plants often host diseases that are detrimental to strawberries.
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References
- "Fruits and Berries for the Home Garden"; Lewis Hill; 1992
- Government of Alberta: Agriculture and Rural Development: Strawberries in Alberta
Warnings
- Avoid planting strawberries in areas that have raised tomatoes, peppers, potatoes or raspberries within the past year. Such plants often host diseases that are detrimental to strawberries.
Writer Bio
Joshua Duvauchelle is a certified personal trainer and health journalist, relationships expert and gardening specialist. His articles and advice have appeared in dozens of magazines, including exercise workouts in Shape, relationship guides for Alive and lifestyle tips for Lifehacker. In his spare time, he enjoys yoga and urban patio gardening.
