Javascript is required to use this website.

Strawberries are one of spring’s earliest garden crops

Marie Hoyer
May 4, 2026
May 4, 2026

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

With the warming spring days, strawberry plants are showing signs of growth. Although they have been available in markets all winter, they are one of spring’s earliest crops to occur in the garden or in grocery markets.

kAm%96 62C=J 36CC:6D @?6 AFC492D6D >2J 92G6 H9:E6 D9@F=56CD 3FE 2C6 92C5] %96J 2C6 ?@E C:A6] %96 36CCJ D9@F=5 36 4@>A=6E6=J C65] xE >2J 96=A E@ A=246 E96 DEC2H36CCJ FAD:56 5@H? 7@C 2 76H 52JD[ 3FE E96J C62==J 5@ ?@E C:A6? 27E6C 36:?8 A:4<65]k^Am

kAm%96C6 2C6 7@FC >2:? G2C:6E:6D @7 DEC2H36CC:6D] yF?6\362C:?8 DEC2H36CC:6D AC@5F46D @?6 =2C86 4C@A @?46 :? yF?6] tG6C362C:?8 2?5 52J\?6FEC2= A=2?ED AC@5F46 D>2==6C 4C@AD 5FC:?8 E96 D62D@?] p=A:?6 DEC2H36CC:6D 2C6 2 H:=5 G2C:6EJ]k^Am

kAm$EC2H36CC:6D 2C6 ?@E 2 ECF6 36CCJ 3@E2?:42==J[ 3FE E96J 2C6 2? 288C682E6 2446DD@CJ 7CF:E] %92E >62?D :E 56G6=@AD 7C@> 2 D:?8=6 7=@H6C H:E9 >F=E:A=6 D6A2C2E6 @G2C:6D E92E >6C86 H:E9 @E96C @G2C:6D] %96 D@\42==65 D665D 2C6 2496?6D 2?5 4@G6C E96 H9@=6 DFC7246 @7 E96 DH@==6?[ C65[ 2?5 7=6D9J 36CCJ] %96C6 >2J 36 @G6C a__ 2496?6D @? 6249 36CCJ DFC7246]k^Am

kAm|6I:4@ 2?5 r2?252 2C6 E96 =2C86DE :>A@CE6CD @7 r2=:7@C?:2’D DEC2H36CC:6D[ 3FE b_ @E96C 4@F?EC:6D :>A@CE E96> 2D H6==] u=@C:52 4@>6D :? 2D E96 D64@?5 =2C86DE 6IA@CE6C 2?5 DFAA=:6D E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 H:?E6C AC@5F4E:@?] !=2?E:?8 :D 86?6C2==J 5@?6 :? E96 DAC:?8 2?5 E96 72==]k^Am

kAmx? a_aa[ E96C6 H6C6 `b 4F=E:G2CD @7 DEC2H36CC:6D 8C@H? :? E96 &]$] %96 7C6D9 >2C<6E 4@?EC:3FE6D E@ g` A6C46?E @7 E96 92CG6DE65 7CF:E H:E9 `h A6C46?E FD65 :? G2C:@FD AC@46DD:?8] r2?252 :>A@CED 2AAC@I:>2E6=J g` A6C46?E @7 E96 92CG6DE65 7CF:E[ ea A6C46?E E@ r2?252 2?5 ad A6C46?E E@ |6I:4@] %96 &] $] :D :? 7@FCE9 A=246[ 369:?5 r9:?2[ :? H@C=5 AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am

kAm|2?J 7:6=5D @7 DEC2H36CC:6D :? D@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2 92G6 366? 6=:>:?2E65 5F6 E@ FC32?:K2E:@?] !6DE:4:56 FD6 92D :?4C62D65 C68F=2E:@?D H9:=6 H2E6C BF2=:EJ 2?5 FD6 7@C :CC:82E:@? :D DEC6DD65]k^Am

kAm(2E6C:?8 E96 36CC:6D :D >2:?=J 5@?6 FD:?8 5C:A :CC:82E:@? @C >:4C@\DAC:?<=6CD] u2C>:?8 2?5 92CG6DED 56A6?5 @? 92?5 =23@C =2HD[ H9:49 92D 8C62E=J 27764E65 92?5 A=2?E:?8 2?5 92CG6DE:?8 :? @A6? 7:6=5D] %96 36CC:6D 2C6 A:4<65 3J 92?5 2?5 A=2465 :?E@ A=2DE:4 4=2> D96==D :? E96 7:6=5] %96C6 >2J 36 D@>6 >6492?:K2E:@?[ 3FE :E :D ?@E G6CJ 4@>>@?] $@>6 @7 :E :D ?@E 4@>A2E:3=6 E@ E96 AC@46DD] p== E9:D 4@?EC:3FE6D E@ f_ A6C46?E @7 8C@H:?8 4@DED]k^Am

kAmw:DE@C:42==J[ DEC2H36CC:6D H6C6 7@F?5 :? tFC@A62? 2CE 2?5 =:E6C2EFC6 7C@> #@>2? E:>6D] %96J 2AA62C65 :? >65:6G2= C@J2= 82C56?D 3J E96 `cE9 46?EFCJ] }2E:G6 36CC:6D H6C6 7@F?5 :? E96 }6H (@C=5 3J tFC@A62? 6IA=@C6CD WuC282C:2 G:C:?:2?2X :? E96 `e__D[ 2?5 p>6566 uC2?4@:D uC6K:6C @7 r9:=6 :? `f`c]k^Am

kAmx? E96 >:5\`f__D[ tFC@A62? 9@CE:4F=EFC:DED 3682? 4C@DD:?8 DA64:6D @7 E96 36CC:6D] $6=64E:G6 3C665:?8 2?5 4F=E:G2E:@? 96=A65 DAC625 E96 ?6H=J 56G6=@A65 G2C:6E:6D H@C=5H:56] x? E96 `hE9 2?5 a_E9 46?EFC:6D[ 4@>>6C4:2= G2C:6E:6D H6C6 56G6=@A65 7@C D:K6[ J:6=5[ 2?5 DE@C286 23:=:EJ] |2?J G2C:@FD 4F=E:G2CD 92G6 366? 8C@H? 3@E9 AC:G2E6=J 2?5 4@>>6C4:2==J @G6C E96 A2DE b_ J62CD]k^Am

kAmu@FC @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E 5:D62D6D 27764E:?8 DEC2H36CC:6D 2C6 |24C@A9@>:?2 C@@E C@E[ uFD2C:F> H:=E[ '6CE:4:==F> H:=E @C !9JE@A9E9@C2] $A:56C >:E6D 2?5 E96 {F8FD 3F8 2C6 E96 >2;@C :?D64ED 27764E:?8 E96 A=2?ED]k^Am

kAms:D62D6 C6D:DE2?46[ D96=7 =:76[ 2?5 AC@5F4E:@?\362C:?8 G2C:6E:6D 92G6 366? 56G6=@A65 E@ AC@=@?8 E96 D62D@?] (9:E6 @C J6==@H G2C:6E:6D 2C6 :?E6C6DE:?8 2?5 2=D@ 2G2:=23=6]k^Am

kAm%96 A=2?ED 2C6 ?@E 4@>A2E:3=6 ?6IE E@ E@>2E@6D[ A6AA6CD @C 688A=2?E] (96? 3=@@>:?8[ C65 A2:?E65 C@4<D D6E @FE 2>@?8 E96 A=2?ED 96=A E@ =2E6C <66A E96 3:C5D 2H2J] r@G6C:?8 E96 A=2?ED H:E9 3:C5 ?6EE:?8 2=D@ 96=AD E@ AC6G6?E E96 36CC:6D 36:?8 62E6? 3J 3:C5D]k^Am

kAm%96 36CC:6D >2J 36 62E6? 7C6D9[ :? 56DD6CED[ D>@@E9:6D 2?5 >:=< D92<6D[ :46 4C62>D[ ;2>D[ 4@>A@E6D[ 32<:?8[ D2F46D[ D2=25D[ 36G6C286D[ 5:AA65 :? 49@4@=2E6[ D2=D2D @C 49FE?6JD[ 82C?:D9 2?5 >2J 36 7C@K6?] !9JD:42==J[ @?6 4FA @7 DEC2H36CC:6D AC@G:56D >@C6 ':E2>:? r E92? 2? @C2?86 H:E9 23@FE d_ 42=@C:6D A6C 4FA] %96J 2=D@ 4@?EC:3FE6 7:36C[ >2?82?6D6[ A@E2DD:F>[ 7@=2E6 2?5 2?E:@I:52?ED]k^Am

kAm$@>6E9:?8 E@ E9:?< 23@FEi “w@CE:4F=EFC:DED D66< E@ :>AC@G6 E96 A=2?ED @7 E96 7@@5 H6 62E[ 2?5 ?FEC:E:@?:DED 96=A FD E@ 62E 962=E9J]” – |2C:6k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m$%#p(qt##* |&uux}$k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmk6>mc `^a 4FAD 2==\AFCA@D6 7=@FCk^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` `^c 4FA DF82Ck^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>ma `^c E23=6DA@@?D 32<:?8 A@H56Ck^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` a^b E62DA@@? D2=Ek^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` `^c E62DA@@? 32<:?8 D@52k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` A:?E @7 DEC2H36CC:6D[ 49@AA65k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>mb 688D[ D=:89E=J 362E6?k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` E62DA@@? 2=>@?5 6IEC24Ek^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>ma `^c 4FA 3FEE6C>:=<k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` DE:4< W`^c =3]X >2C82C:?6[ >6=E65k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m4:??2>@?^DF82C >:IEFC6 7@C E@AA:?8k^6>mk^Am

kAmr@>3:?6 7=@FC[ DF82C[ 32<:?8 A@H56C[ D2=E 2?5 32<:?8 D@52] p55 49@AA65 DEC2H36CC:6D]k^Am

kAm|:I] p55 688D[ 2=>@?5 6IEC24E[ 3FEE6C>:=< 2?5 >2C82C:?6] |:I F?E:= 5CJ :?8C65:6?EDk^Am

kAm2C6 >@:DE6?65] u:== 8C62D65 >F77:? 4FAD EH@\E9:C5D 7F==] %@A H:E9 4:??2>@?^DF82C >:IEFC6] q2<6 `d >:?FE6D @C F?E:= 5@?6 :? 2 bfd\568C66 @G6?] |2<6D be >F77:?D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Screwworm spreads into 4 more counties
Longtime dairy farmer leads state dairy organizations
Better days for beets
Iowa dairy farm engages visitors while expanding operations
Illinois brothers carry on dairy tradition
Interseeding outcompetes weeds, has host of other benefits
Simple changes make the difference in cooling off cattle
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Revamped program offers one-year contract for cover crops
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Downpour floods fields in south-central North Dakota as farmers finish planting
Competition and camaraderie
Happy Rock 4-H’er delivers buckets of smiles in Jefferson County
Cereal rye smothers weeds
Oliver love leads to book

kAmkDEC@?8m$%#p(qt##* u#&x% $p{psk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmk6>ma 3@I6D DEC2H36CCJ 86=2E:?k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>ma 4FAD 3@:=:?8 H2E6Ck^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` =2C86 3@I 7C@K6? DEC2H36CC:6D[ ~#k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>ma `^a 4FAD 7C6D9 DEC2H36CC:6Dk^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m`^a 4FA 4CFD965 A:?62AA=6[ C6D6CG6 `^c ;F:46]k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>mr@>3:?6 ;F:46 H:E9 H2E6C E@ >2<6 ` 4FAk^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>mg @F?46D 4C62> 4966D6k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` 4FA A@H56C65 DF82Ck^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` E62DA@@? G2?:==2k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>ma 4FAD H9:AA65 E@AA:?8k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` 4FA 49@AA65 ?FEDk^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>ma D=:465 32?2?2Dk^6>mk^Am

kAms:DD@=G6 86=2E:? :? 3@:=:?8 H2E6C :? 2 962EAC@@7 3@H=] $E:C a >:?FE6D F?E:= 7F==J 5:DD@=G65] p55 4@=5 =:BF:5] r9:== :? C67C:86C2E@C F?E:= >:IEFC6 368:?D E@ E9:4<6? 3FE ?@E D6E]k^Am

kAm!C6A2C6 4@EE286 4966D6 =2J6Ci q62E E96 D@7E6?65 4C62> 4966D6 H:E9 E96 A@H56C65 DF82C 2?5 G2?:==2 F?E:= D>@@E9] u@=5 :?E@ E96 H9:AA65 E@AA:?8] r@>3:?6 E96 A:?62AA=6] |:I E92E 2?5 ?FED :?E@ E96 A:?62AA=6 86=2E:? >:IEFC6 7@C 2 >2C3=65[ 4C62>J D2=25]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m$%#p(qt##* rpztk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmk6>m` 3@I H9:E6 42<6 >:Ik^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` 4FA >2D965 DEC2H36CC:6Dk^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m`^a 4FAD H2E6Ck^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m`^b 4FAD G686E23=6 @:=k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` A24<286 DEC2H36CCJ y6==@k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>mb 688Dk^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` E62DA@@? G2?:==2k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m|:I 2== E@86E96C 3FE E96 36CC:6D] u@=5 :? E96 DEC2H36CC:6D =2DE]k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m!=246 :? 2 h” 3J `a” 42<6 A2?]k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>mq2<6 2E bd_ 568C66D 7@C b_\bc >:?FE6D]k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>mx4:?8ik^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>mb 4FAD A@H56C65 DF82Ck^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m`^a 4FA W` DE:4<X D@7E 3FEE6Ck^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m`^a 4FA D=:465 DEC2H36CC:6Dk^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m` E@ a E62DA@@?D >:=<k^6>mk^Am

kAms:DD@=G6 y6==@ :? 9@E H2E6C] {6E 4@@=] p55 42<6 >:I[ @:= 2?5 H2E6C] p55 688D @?6 2E 2 E:>6] v6?E=J >:I :? DEC2H36CC:6D] !=246 32EE6C :?E@ 2 8C62D65 2?5 7=@FC65 h” 3J `a” 42<6 A2?] vC62D6 2?5 7=@FC A2?D] q2<6 2E bd_ 568C66D 23@FE cd >:?FE6D] #6>@G6 7C@> @G6? 2?5 =6E 4@@= `_ >:?FE6D] #6>@G6 42<6] |6=E E96 3FEE6C 2?5 255 :E 2?5 E96 DEC2H36CC:6D E@ E96 A@H56C65 DF82C] &D6 E@ 7C@DE 42<6]k^Am