do you have to pull the flowers off of strawberry plants?

Question

Ive heard that you HAVE to pull the flowers off the strawberry plants, but then Ive heard that you have to leave it on. Ive got my first couple of flowers blooming on my strawberry plant do i pull them off or not please help me!!!!!!!

Answer 1

It depends if you have June bearing or everbearing and is this the first season of growing? If it is June bearing it's best to remove the flowers the first year. If it's everbearing they will produce on a second course but if it's the first year planted then remove the first set of blossoms then let the second batch grow for a larger berry. Remember strawberries like full sun the don't like their feet standing in water and they need a fertilizer for bigger strawberries. They are the easiest fruit to grow. It might be painful to wait on the berries but if you do you stand a better chance of having a stronger plant and bigger berries.

Also remember some strawberries grow better in some states than others



University of Missouri Extension,

First-year care

Remove blossoms

Remove blooms on newly planted strawberries. If berries are allowed to develop, they deplete the food reserves of the plant and delay runner production./open link for more infornation

http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6135



To find out what is best in your state

Cooperative Extensions for each state

Your Cooperative Extension is an excellent resource for information on gardening and growing in your area. Look below to find a link to your local extension service.

http://www.greenhousecatalog.com/cooperative_extensions_for_each_state.php



Yum Yum on the berries !



To Paula: if you were a Master Gardner you would have asked if it was the first year planting and which type of berry she has.

Answer 2

If you just planted the plants for the first time, many will recommend that you pull the flowers so the plant will put more energy into growing the plant instead of producing strawberries. If you do this you will have a much larger harvest next year. If you want some fruit this year, leave the flowers, it won't hurt anything.

Answer 3

Strawberry flowers can take as much as two years after planted interior the floor to supply properly. be sure to maintain them lined in frost circumstances if temp are interior the 30's in any respect on condition that could additionally ward off them from blossoming in the event that they have been given too chilly.

Answer 4

It depends on how strong you want your plants to be. You can let them bear fruit this year, but the berries will be smaller, and you won't get as many. Or you can pinch the bloom off this year, to throw the energy back into the roots, and be rewarded with stronger, healthier plants and more and bigger berries from next summer on. Entirely up to you. Hope this helps...

Answer 5

Please don't pull the flowers off if you want strawberries Each of the flowers will become a strawberry and if you pull them off they will not set and grow....and don't pull off any runners you have because they will all become individual strawberry plants when they put their roots down.