How long have you grown strawberries *in the same soil*?

KiwiSFGnewbie 2/25/2023, 10:18 pm

Howdy folks,

Just doing a bit of longer-term planning here. I already grow strawberries in containers but would like to get them in the ground as of next (southern hemisphere) summer. Since they prefer a slightly acidic soil I was thinking of a permanent strawberry bed, replanting one row each spring with new plants so that I always have enough plants that are in peak production. But then I started seeing that you need to move them out of the bed every few years to prevent soil-borne diseases.....

So, my question is this: how long have you grown strawberries in the same soil -- ignoring whether it was the same plants, or newer ones replacing older ones?

Thanks Smile

**sanderson** 2/25/2023, 11:26 pm

I've had the same plants for 4 summers, 3 years in one bed. I just clean, thin, and add more compost and E-Z Straw to keep the berries and leaves off the MM. This spring, I hope to take all of them out, separate clusters and replant at 4/sq ft.

August 21, 2022 haircut.

strawberries - How long have you grown strawberries *in the same soil*? Strawb13

strawberries - How long have you grown strawberries *in the same soil*? Strawb14

OhioGardener 2/26/2023, 7:28 am

Same in-ground strawberry bed, and same in-ground asparagus bed since 1982, cleaned every fall and topped with compost and mulch. Each fall the old strawberry plants are removed and new runners remain to be next year's producers.

But, I guess this doesn't meet the "*in the same soil*?". After 40 years of compost and mulch, it really isn't the same soil it started with. I also have very old rhubarb plants, and an old bed of comfrey, but that is another story... Very Happy

KiwiSFGnewbie 2/26/2023, 2:57 pm

OhioGardener wrote:Same in-ground strawberry bed, and same in-ground asparagus bed since 1982, cleaned every fall and topped with compost and mulch. Each fall the old strawberry plants are removed and new runners remain to be next year's producers.

But, I guess this doesn't meet the "*in the same soil*?". After 40 years of compost and mulch, it really isn't the same soil it started with. I also have very old rhubarb plants, and an old bed of comfrey, but that is another story...

Actually, for my purposes, it does! This is exactly what I was hoping to hear about Smile

If there were soil-borne diseases then surely they would persist even though you're adding new compost/mulch. You're not taking it all out and replacing with new stuff.

Awesome news, this means I can proceed with my plans, yay bounce

(The alternative was trying to shoehorn an apple and two blueberry trees with windbreak into a backyard that really isin't big enough for all that...)

OhioGardener 2/27/2023, 7:46 am

KiwiSFGnewbie wrote:
Awesome news, this means I can proceed with my plans, yay

Remember, though, that there may be differences growing here in the northern hemisphere where we get sub-zero temperatures for a couple months every winter, and an region where it never freezes. Freezing soil may kill pathogens that are not killed otherwise. I nave no experience with that, but it is worth considering.

**sanderson** 2/27/2023, 12:07 pm

As OG mentioned, climates range from freezing with snow to year around outdoor gardening. As far as growing in the same beds, I grow the same crops in the same beds year after year, only mixing in more blended composts.

KiwiSFGnewbie 2/27/2023, 3:31 pm

Jolly good point, OG, obviously had not considered that. But what great news from you sanderson! Will make my vege bed much easier to plan, too Smile

anajinn 3/7/2023, 8:21 pm

sanderson wrote:As OG mentioned, climates range from freezing with snow to year around outdoor gardening. As far as growing in the same beds, I grow the same crops in the same beds year after year, only mixing in more blended composts.

As far as I am aware, strawberries are perennials and you would leave them to grow in the same bed year after year and just replenish and fortify the soil with the appropriate amendments. You would not rotate strawberries.

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