How To Grow Bigger Strawberries

If you want to learn how to grow bigger strawberries, you’re in the right place. Getting larger, juicier berries and a more generous harvest is a common goal for gardeners. It all comes down to a few key practices, from choosing the right plants to giving them the perfect care. This guide will walk you through the simple, effective steps to boost your strawberry patch’s performance.

Bigger strawberries start long before you see any fruit. It begins with smart planning and continues with consistent care throughout the season. By focusing on the plant’s needs from the ground up, you can encourage it to put its energy into producing impressive berries.

Start with the Right Variety

Not all strawberry plants are created equal. Some are simply bred to produce larger fruit. If size is your priority, your first step is to select a variety known for its big berries.

June-Bearing Types: These often produce the largest individual fruits. Popular large-fruited June-bearing varieties include ‘Chandler’, ‘Allstar’, and ‘Jewel’.
Everbearing/Day-Neutral Types: While their berries are sometimes smaller, varieties like ‘Albion’ and ‘Seascape’ are known for good size and steady production.
Always check the catalog description for words like “large berried,” “jumbo,” or “high yield.” Buying from a reputable nursery ensures you get healthy, virus-free plants, which is crucial for growth.

Provide Maximum Sunlight

Strawberries are sun worshippers. For the sweetest and largest fruit, they need a full day of direct light.

Aim for a minimum of 8-10 hours of direct sunlight. More is even better.
Less sun leads to smaller berries, weaker plants, and less flavor.
Choose your planting site carefully, avoiding areas shaded by trees or buildings for most of the day.

Optimize Your Soil

Great soil is the foundation of a great harvest. Strawberries prefer a slightly acidic, nutrient-rich, and exceptionally well-draining soil.

Test Your Soil: Aim for a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. A simple test kit can tell you if you need to adjust it.
Improve Drainage & Nutrients: Work in 3-4 inches of compost or well-rotted manure before planting. This feeds the plants and improves soil structure.
Raised Beds Are Ideal: They ensure excellent drainage and warm up faster in spring, giving plants a vigorius start.

Plant Correctly and Give Them Space

Crowded plants compete for water, nutrients, and light, resulting in smaller fruit. Proper spacing is non-negotiable.

Space plants 12-18 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet apart.
Plant so the crown (where the leaves meet the roots) is right at soil level. Burying it can cause rot, and planting to high can dry out the roots.
This spacing allows for good air circulation, which prevents disease and gives each plant room to thrive.

Master Watering and Feeding

Consistent moisture and balanced nutrition are the engines of growth. Inconsistent care here is a main reason for small fruit.

Watering Wisely

Provide 1-2 inches of water per week, more during hot, dry spells.
Water at the base of the plants, not overhead, to keep leaves dry and prevent fungus.
Use drip irrigation or a soaker hose for the best results. It delivers water directly to the roots where it’s needed.

Feeding for Fruit

At planting, use a balanced organic fertilizer (like a 10-10-10).
After the first harvest (for June-bearers) or every 6 weeks (for everbearers), feed with a fertilizer slightly higher in potassium (the third number), which supports fruit development.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers once flowering starts, as they promote leafy growth at the expense of fruit.

Practice Strategic Pruning

This is a secret weapon for bigger berries. You’re directing the plant’s energy away from making more runners or leaves and into making fruit.

Remove Runners: For the first year, especially on June-bearing plants, pinch off all runners (the long stems that make new baby plants). This forces the mother plant to focus on fruit production.
Renovate June-Bearing Beds: Right after harvest, mow or shear the foliage down to about 2 inches, thin out crowded plants, and fertilize. This rejuvenates them for next year.
Pinch Early Blooms: On new plants, pinching off the first flowers that appear allows the plant to establish a stronger root system first, leading to better fruit later.

Mulch is a Must

Mulching serves several critical functions for growing bigger strawberries.

Conserves Moisture: It keeps soil from drying out to fast between waterings.
Suppresses Weeds: Weeds are fierce competitors for resources.
Keeps Fruit Clean: It acts as a barrier between the berries and the soil.
Regulates Temperature: Straw is the classic choice (it’s why they’re called strawberries!). Pine needles or wood chips also work well.

Protect Your Blooming Crop

Flowers are your future fruit. Protecting them from late spring frosts is essential.

Have row covers or old sheets ready to drape over plants when a frost is forecasted.
This simple step can save an entire crop of potential berries from being damaged by cold.

Renew and Rotate Your Beds

Strawberry plants are most productive in their first 2-3 years. After that, berry size and yield often decline.

Plan to replace your strawberry plants every 3-4 years.
Practice crop rotation by planting your new strawberries in a different part of the garden to prevent soil-borne disease buildup.
Start new plants from runners of your healthiest existing plants, or buy new virus-free stock.

FAQ: Growing Larger Strawberries

What is the best fertilizer for bigger strawberries?

Use a balanced fertilizer at planting. When flowering begins, switch to a formula with more potassium (like a 5-10-10) to promote fruit size and sweetness. Organic options like compost tea or fish emulsion are also excellent.

Does pinching off strawberry flowers help?

Yes, for new plants. Pinching off the first few blooms allows the plant to develop stronger roots and leaves first. This leads to a more robust plant that can support larger fruit later in the season.

Why are my strawberries so small?

Common causes include overcrowded plants, insufficient sunlight (less than 8 hours), inconsistent watering, poor soil nutrition, and letting too many runners develop. It can also simply be the variety you chose.

How much water do strawberries need to grow big?

They need consistent moisture, about 1-2 inches per week. The key is deep, even watering without letting the soil get soggy. Drip irrigation is the most effective method to achieve this.

Should I cut back strawberry plants?

For June-bearing varieties, a major cutback (renovation) right after harvest is crucial for next year’s crop size. For all types, regularly removing old, dead leaves throughout the season keeps the plant healthy.

Growing bigger strawberries is a rewarding process that pays off with every harvest. By selecting the right varieties, preparing your soil well, and providing consistent care—especially with water, food, and pruning—you set the stage for success. Remember, the goal is to build strong, healthy plants; large fruit is the natural result. With these steps, your next strawberry season can be your best one yet.