Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits in the world. They are grown in temperate climates, and they require plenty of water to grow. If you want to grow your own strawberries at home, you need to know how often to water strawberries.
Strawberries need about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of water per week throughout the growing season. The amount of rainfall you receive on your farm will determine how often you need to irrigate your strawberry plants during dry periods, but it’s usually best to give them at least one thorough soaking every week during summer months when rainfall isn’t abundant.
Factors Determining How to Water Strawberry Plants Right
How often you need to water depends on a number of factors, including:
Soil type
The following are how often you should water strawberries depending on the soil type:
Very sandy soil – Water once a week after planting, then twice a week for the next two weeks, then three times per week for the next two weeks, then four times per week until harvest.
Sandy loam – Water once a week after planting and twice a week during the growing season (May through October).
Clay loam – Water once every two days during the growing season (May through October).
Dry soils – Water deeply every 2-3 days during the growing season (May through October).
Sun conditions
Strawberries require six hours of direct sunlight each day for proper growth and production.
In areas where there is less direct sunlight, such as in the north or northwest regions of the country, you will need to water more frequently than if they were growing in an area with more direct sunlight.
Strawberry variety
Strawberry plants come in two varieties: June-bearing and everbearing. June-bearers produce a single crop of berries in late spring or early summer; ever-bearers produce smaller crops throughout the growing season. Everbearing varieties are more popular because they produce fruit twice as often as June-bearers do, but they don’t produce as much fruit overall as their counterparts do.
Everbearing strawberries have become more popular over time because they allow gardeners who live in cooler climates (like me) to enjoy fresh-picked berries all summer long!
How To Tell It’s Time to Water Your Strawberries
Strawberry plants are very sensitive to dehydration. If they don’t have enough water, they will wilt and die. This can happen very quickly in hot weather or with poor drainage, so it’s important to keep an eye on your strawberry plants and make sure they have enough water.
Here are a few signs that indicate it’s time to water your strawberries:
Leaves turn yellow or brown – This is one of the most common signs of dehydration in strawberry plants. If all of the leaves on a plant start turning yellow or brown before harvest time, it means that there isn’t enough water in the soil for the plant to absorb it through its roots.
Leaves curl up towards the center – This symptom is also related to dehydration, but in a different way than leaf yellowing or browning. When this happens, it means that there is too much water in the soil around your plant.
How to Water Strawberries
Strawberry plants have a shallow root system and can be damaged by excessive watering. However, when the weather is hot or dry, it’s important to keep their roots moist to prevent wilting and stress on the plant. There are several ways to water strawberries depending on your needs and preferences:
Hand watering – If you have only a few plants, hand watering is the easiest method when you want to give them extra water. Use a watering can with a long spout so you don’t get too close to the plant leaves or crowns (the top of the plant). Pour water directly onto the soil around each plant’s roots without getting any on leaf surfaces or crowns. This method also works well if you have larger beds of strawberries because it allows you to water all plants at once without moving from one area to another.
Spray Method – Watering directly on the leaves can cause mildew and other diseases, so use this method only when necessary (such as after extreme heat). For this method, place a hose nozzle on your faucet and adjust it so it sprays a fine mist instead of a stream of water. Spray each plant thoroughly from several angles.
Signs of Excessive Strawberry Watering
Strawberry plants are susceptible to a number of pests, diseases, and environmental hazards. One of the most common problems is excessive watering. If you notice any of the following signs, it’s likely that your strawberry plants are being overwatered:
Strawberry leaves turn yellow or brown. This is one of the most obvious signs of excessive watering. If you notice that all or most of your plant’s leaves are yellowing or browning, it’s likely that they’re not getting enough water.
Strawberry leaves wilt or droop down toward the ground. This is another common sign of excessive watering in strawberries. When waterlogged soil becomes saturated with moisture, it can’t hold onto any more water, which leads to wilting leaves on your plants’ stems.
Strawberry fruits split open prematurely and turn mushy inside. It’s normal for strawberries to split open when they’re ripe, but if this happens before they’re ripe – or even while they’re still forming on the plant – it means they’ve been getting too much water!
Final Thoughts
Strawberries are about 85% water, so it’s important to water them frequently and deeply. Watering strawberries once a week is usually sufficient, but if you live in a hot climate, or your soil is sandy or very porous, you may need to water twice a week.
If you’re growing strawberries in containers, check the soil once a day and water as needed. The general rule of thumb is one inch of water per week for container-grown plants.
