Strawberries???

Question

I need to establish a new strawberry bed but my failing health does not allow me to do a lot of weeding and our ground has lots of weeds, mostly broadleaf. Any suggestion as to the best way to prevent them? Also, we live in Minnesota where temps get well below zero in the winter months. What would you suggest for the best covering for the berries to avoid frost or freeze damage to the plants? Thank you folks.

Answer 1

plastic wrap! and I believe breather holes! but check tomsgarden.com

Answer 2

Mulch is the solution to both of your problems.  Just be sure you don't use pine mulch, as the strawberries will absorb the pine scent and taste like pine trees when you pick them.

Answer 3

Mulch to prevent weeds and for the winter, as long as the plants haven't already put on next years buds (which I doubt will happen in Minnesota), put down enough extra mulch to keep the crowns from freezing until they get a snow cover.  Each spring new roots and shoots grow out of of the crown so it doesn't matter if the above ground part of the plant freezes.  Pine bark is excellent mulch plus it is acidic which strawberries love.