How to Grow Delicious Strawberries in Georgia

Strawberries are a delicious and rewarding crop to grow at home in Georgia. With some planning and care, you can harvest buckets of juicy, sweet berries from your own backyard or garden plot. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to successfully grow strawberries in Georgia.

Overview of Growing Strawberries in GA

Strawberries do best in middle Georgia and south Georgia, which are warmer places in Georgia. It does best in places with lots of sun, soil that drains well, and mild winters without hard freezes. In north Georgia, the matted row system works well. In middle and southern Georgia, the annual hill system works better [1].

You’ll need to choose a variety suited for your region. Popular varieties include Chandler Sweet Charlie, Camarosa, and Earliglow. Always purchase certified disease-free plants from a reputable nursery. Proper site preparation planting, fertilization, irrigation, and pest management will lead to healthy plants and delicious fruit.

How to Plant Strawberries in Georgia

Matted Row System for North Georgia

For the matted row system, plants are put in rows that are 4 feet apart and 2 feet apart in the spring. Runners fill in over the summer to make rows that are 2 feet wide and matted, with a 2 foot space between each row. Flowers are removed the first year so plants establish. Fruit is harvested in year 2 and beyond.

• Space plants 2 feet apart in 2 rows 4 feet apart
• Allow runners to fill in a 2 foot wide mat between rows
• Remove flowers the first year so plants establish
• Harvest fruit in year 2 and subsequent years

Annual Hill System for Middle/South Georgia

In the fall, plants are spaced 12 inches apart on raised beds in the annual hill system. Plants fruit the following spring and are then discarded. Chandler and Camarosa varieties work best.

• Space plants 12 inches apart in 2 rows on raised beds
• Cover beds with plastic mulch and drip irrigation
• Set plants September-November
• Fruit harvested next spring; plants discarded after

Tips for Planting

• Prepare soil by tilling and adding fertilizer/lime weeks before planting
• Buy certified disease-free plants from reputable nursery
• Set plants at correct depth so crowns are just above soil
• Water plants well immediately after planting

Growing and Maintaining Healthy Strawberry Plants

• Control weeds carefully by hand pulling, hoeing, or mulching
• Water 1-1.5 inches per week if rain is insufficient
• Fertilize 3-4 times per year with balanced fertilizer
• Remove flowers and runners as needed in first year
• Renovate plants after harvest by mowing, thinning, and fertilizing
• Monitor for pests and diseases; treat as needed
• Use bird netting to protect fruit from birds

Harvesting and Enjoying Your Strawberries

• Harvest berries when fully red by gently twisting off fruit
• Pick berries every 2-3 days during peak season
• Store unwashed berries in refrigerator up to 3-5 days
• Enjoy fresh, freeze extras for later, or incorporate into recipes

You can grow buckets of juicy, tasty strawberries in your own Georgia garden if you take good care of them all year. Growing your own berries is worth the work because they taste so good. If you want to grow strawberries successfully, read this guide from planting to picking.