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Garden

Get ready to plant strawberries

By PAM BROWN and CAROLYN SUGGS
Published August 26, 2006

Plant your strawberry bed now through October. Selections recommended for Florida are Tioga, Dover, Douglas, Florida 90 and Florida Belle.

Space berry plants 10 to 14 inches apart, and set plants at the same depth they were grown in pots or slightly higher, with their roots spread naturally. Deep planting smothers the crown, causing poor growth, rot or death. Mulch with pine needles or coarse mulch to discourage slugs and to conserve moisture, being careful to keep mulch 2 inches away from the base of each plant.

Fruit should be ready to harvest within 90 to 110 days after planting. You'll get better results if you prepare the planting bed about two weeks prior to setting out your plants. Mix 25 pounds of organic matter such as peat moss, cow manure or compost for every 100 square feet of garden bed.

Strawberries can tolerate light shade for part of the day, but they grow more vigorously in the full sun. Water as needed and fertilize every five to six weeks with 5-10-10, 4-6-8 or other suitable mixes.

- PAM BROWN and CAROLYN SUGGS, Pinellas County Extension Center/Florida Botanical Gardens. Questions? Call them at (727) 582-2100.

[Last modified August 24, 2006, 13:11:13]