Besides being absolutely delicious, strawberries offer many different health benefits that make them essential to anyone’s diet.
From my experience, the best time to grow strawberries in Michigan is in late Spring and early Summer, between April and July.
Plus, thanks to their sweet flavor, strawberries are great on their own and commonly used to create jams and other confectionery.
I bet you are wondering how to grow strawberries in Michigan. If you are located in the Michigan area and want to grow some strawberries to enjoy instead of purchasing them from the grocery store, then rest assured that you have come to the right place.
In this post, we will provide you with a breakdown of all you need to know when it comes to growing strawberries in Michigan, the Great Lakes State.
From the best time of year to plant your seeds all the way to guidance on boosting cultivation, we’ve covered all bases in this guide. Read on!
Table of Contents
When Should You Grow Strawberries In Michigan?
If you’re from MI or you’re planning to grow strawberries in the Michigan area, then the good news is that, for the most part, growing strawberries is a relatively easy process to undertake.
To grow strawberries successfully in Michigan, you must ensure that you are growing your strawberries at the right time.
As a general rule of thumb, it is recommended that you grow strawberries during April, June or July.
However, you can also sow strawberries as late in the year, from mid-September through to early October. Still, many people agree that the optimum time to grow strawberries is during the late spring and early summer months.
All that being said, to boost your chances of success when sowing strawberries, here are two main guidelines to keep in mind when deciding which time of the year to begin sewing your strawberries:
Plant In Early Spring If You Can
If you can grow strawberries during the spring, then it is highly recommended that you do so.
Due to the temperature fluctuations that can occur during the fall and winter months, growing your strawberries during the spring and early summer is the best time to do it.
As well as this, the soil is also considered to offer the most nutrients during this time of year, which boosts the chances of a greater yield once the strawberries are ready to be harvested.
Avoid Grassy Areas In The Fall
If you are unable to grow strawberries in the springtime, then it is recommended that you avoid showing your strawberry seeds in grassy or weedy areas.
During this time of year, planting strawberries in areas with lots of vegetation can negatively affect the seeds’ health and, in turn, prevent the strawberry plants from flourishing.
If you want to plant your strawberry seeds during this time, you should ensure that you have mulched the soil to prevent the fluctuating temperature from causing your strawberry crops to perish.
A popular mulch is the Wood Smith USA 100% Natural Cedar Shavings.
Growing Strawberries In The Upper And Lower Michigan Areas
Depending on what part of Michigan you live in, you might find that you have different types of growing conditions to work with.
As we have mentioned in a previous point, even though it is possible to grow strawberries in fall, it is recommended that you grow strawberries in Michigan during the spring and early summer months.
That being said, if you live in the lower peninsula of Michigan, it is recommended that you aim to begin growing your strawberries in April so that you will have finished the gardening process by June.
As for those who live in the upper peninsula of Michigan, it is recommended that you aim to have your strawberries planted by July at the latest.
If you cannot have your strawberries planted by that time, as we have said, it will be possible to grow them in the fall.
However, you will need to deal with various additional external factors that might affect the overall quality of your strawberries, including varying temperatures.
This will mean that you will need to take extra care, including mulching and using fertilizer like Espoma Organic Berry-Tone Natural & Organic Fertilizer to allow for optimum nutrient uptake.
Additional Growing Tips
Even though it is important to make sure that you are choosing to grow your strawberries during the right time of year, it is also important to make sure that you are selecting your sowing dates in accordance with the following tips:
Grow In Optimum Soil Conditions
In order to grow your strawberries correctly, you are going to need to make sure that you are using the optimum soil conditions to ensure a good yield and quality of your strawberries.
If you find that the soil is not suitable for growing, then you might need to use a fertilizer like Espoma Organic Berry-Tone Natural & Organic Fertilizer that will be able to facilitate optimum growth of your strawberries, or alternatively wait until a more suitable time of year for growing.
*For detailed and tested fertilizer recommendations, please see our article Best Organic Fertilizers for Strawberries: Boost Your Crop Yield Naturally.
Dr. Earth Gold Premium Potting Soil is popular if you grow your strawberries in pots.
Do Not Plant During the Frost
Another important tip that we urge you to remember when growing strawberries is not to grow during frosty weather.
The frost raises the chances of your strawberry plants getting frostbite and plant rot, so it is important to ensure that you are only ever opting to grow your strawberries when the weather is warm. The temperature offers ideal conditions for growing.
This includes the spring and summer months, particularly April, for the best growing results.
If you do get caught in an early or late frost during your growing season, CJGQ Freeze Protection Plant Covers are a popular and effective method to protect your outdoor plants from cold winter weather.
Wrapping Up
There we have it; you’ve made it to the end of this informative guide.
Now that you have taken the time to read through all that we’ve talked you through above, we hope that we have been able to give you all the information needed to go ahead and begin growing your own strawberries in Michigan.
Happy growing and thank you again for reading, and bye for now!
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- Can Dogs Eat Kiwi Fruit?
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