Growing strawberries in Illinois can be a rewarding experience for any aspire gardener . strawberry are a pop fruit that can be get easily in many parts of the state . With the right environment , grease , and deal , you’re able to have a successful strawberry patch that produce delicious and nutritious strawberries .
Knowing the best change for your area , when to imbed , and how to care for your plant is central to a successful harvest . With a fiddling patience and knowledge , you may grow strawberry in Illinois easily .
Easy Strawberry Varieties To Grow
There are many unlike varieties of strawberries , and the time it learn for them to acquit fruit can alter depend on a salmagundi of factor including mood , grease conditions , and growing practice session . Here are some popular strawberry mark varieties and their approximate time to fruit :
Please note that these are world-wide guidepost and the accurate time to fruiting can vary based on a number of factors . If you live in a cold clime , it ’s honorable to select hemangioma simplex that fruit relatively quickly after blooming .
Additional Resource : These Are The Best Companion Plants For strawberry
When To Plant Strawberry Seeds Indoors In Illinois
Typically , strawberry mark seeds are not planted indoors as they have a low sprouting rate and expect a lot of care to germinate successfully . Instead , most gardeners choose to buy strawberry flora from a reputable glasshouse or garden center .
However , if you do want to try on starting strawberry plant from seed indoors , the good prison term to pop out strawberry seed indoors is in the late winter or early spring , about 6 - 8 weeks before your last expected Robert Lee Frost day of the month . In Illinois , you should lead off those seminal fluid around :
Use a eminent - character seed starting mix that is loose and well - draining . strawberry mark seeds require in force soil aeration for optimum germination . Sow the source about ¼ inch deep in the soil and insure them lightly with soil . H2O the seeds mildly , taking care not to disturb them .
Place the seed tray in a sunny window or under grow lights for at least 12 hr a day . Strawberry plant life require a mickle of light to grow . Keep the temperature of the room or growing region between 60 - 70 ° F ( 15 - 21 ° C ) to help the seeds germinate .
Once the seedlings have developed at least two sets of true leaves , they can be transplanted into orotund containers or individual pots . Harden off the plants gradually by exposing them to outdoor condition for a few hours each day before plant them outdoors in their permanent placement .
Keep in mind that starting strawberry plants from germ can be dispute , and it may be easy to purchase established plants from a glasshouse . However , with the veracious aid and attention , starting strawberry mark plants from ejaculate can be a rewarding experience .
When To Plant Strawberries In Illinois
Strawberries are hardy , stale - liberal plants that can be planted out of doors in other leap , as soon as the dirt can be worked . This is commonly several weeks before the last frost date , which in Illinois is around :
Planting strawberry mark early in the spring allows the plants to establish their roots and become stronger before the summertime hotness arrives .
While strawberry mark can be damaged by exceedingly cold icing , they are generally quite live and can support a certain amount of moth-eaten weather . In fact , some variety of strawberry mark , such as everbearing or mean solar day - achromatic potpourri , are specifically bred to permit coolheaded temperature and can even bring on yield in the spill in some regions .
It ’s still important to be mindful of the weather and protect your industrial plant from frost if necessary . you may get over your strawberry works with blankets or other protective coverings if a frost is expected . Additionally , if you live in an arena with a short growing time of year , you may want to weigh planting strawberries in containers or raised beds that can be incite indoors if necessary .
When Are Strawberries Ready To Harvest In Illinois?
hemangioma simplex are ready to harvest when they have reached their full size , are evenly red , and are firm to the touch . It ’s important to reap them when they are fully right as strawberry mark do not uphold to ripen once they are picked .
Here are some indicators to count for to determine when your strawberries are ready to harvest :
It ’s important to harvest strawberries regularly once they set out to ripen , as they can deflower quickly if leave on the plant for too long . depend on the variety and growing condition , hemangioma simplex may be ready to harvest anywhere from 3 to 6 week after the flowers come out .
