No, strawberries do not like wet soil. Although strawberries enjoy moisture, wet soil can cause much damage to the growth of the plant and fruit.
Strawberries are one of the most loved and easiest fruits to grow, especially for beginners and this is not restricted to a climate and soil. This invariably means that you can grow strawberries anywhere, at any time, and in any season, all over the world.
The most important thing your strawberry needs is full sunlight. Apart from being easy to grow, growing your strawberries comes with other advantages, top on that list is that strawberries from gardens have rich flavor and taste so much better than their store-bought counterparts.
Although strawberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow, they do have their needs, as well as their irritants. Availability of these irritants around your strawberries will cause problems such as slow growth, death, and rot for your favorite fruit.
Amidst the many questions, from garden owners on properly growing strawberries, a common question that requires attention is do strawberries like wet soil? This article will be answering all the questions you have concerning strawberries and wet soil.
Do Strawberry Plants Like Wet Soil?
No, strawberries do not like wet soil. Watering your strawberries is good, in fact, it is required for growth. However, watering can cause a lot of problems to your strawberries, when it is not done right.
The most important thing your strawberry requires is full sunlight. This is particular to many fruit plants such as strawberries.
Your strawberries require up to 6-8 hours of sunlight to produce healthy, plump, tasty berries. If you live in a climate where it can get up to 10 hours of sunlight, go ahead and allow it to soak in! For strawberries, the more sunlight it gets, the more fruits it produces.
Strawberries require water to thrive too, however, they will not tolerate having wet soil. This means that while you need to water your strawberries regularly, you must ensure that it does not sit in water for a long time. This will require that you wait until the soil is completely dry before you water your plant again.
Effects Of Wet Soil On Strawberry Plants
Here are some of what happens to strawberry plants when planted in wet soil.
1. Wilting
Although wilting can be a sign of many other problems for your fruit plant, it is also a major sign of overwatering/wet soil.
Wet soil will reduce the oxygen level to the level where the roots of the plant are unable to breathe and as such, will not be able to transport water into the other parts of the soil, even though there is an abundance. When the plant is unable to neither nor receive water, it results in wilting.
2. Black Root Rot
Black rot is a serious disorder that is peculiar to strawberries. It is the general name for many root disorders and it is often referred to as a root rot disease complex and this is because the cause of the disease may be one or more organisms.
A major cause of black root rot in wet soil and while the ultimate result of black root rot is the death of the plant, many strawberry plants go on to live with the disorder, however, they experience stunted growth.
Blackroot rot commonly affects strawberries that are grown in places with a long history of strawberry cultivation.
3. Slow Growth
A major sign to look out for is slow growth. Your strawberries plant will begin to experience a reduction in its rate of growth when it is being overwatered and has a wet root.
This is because the water stress can interfere with the photosynthetic activities and thereby reduce its growth rate.
How To Water Strawberries?
Knowing how to properly water your strawberries is one of the most important requirements for every strawberry gardener.
In watering your strawberry, you have to ensure that your plant is neither underwatered nor overwatered. The best way to water strawberries is to completely soak the plant right after planting, after this is done, you can then begin to give your plant about 1 to 1.5 inches of water weekly, in normal weather conditions.
Strawberry roots are shallow; you need to be careful so you do not leave them soggy. Ensure the soil is completely dry before watering again. The water should be applied at the base and not on the plant or fruits. We recommend that you water with a drip or soaker hose placed at least two inches away from the plant.
Final Thoughts
Although strawberries do not like to sit in wet soil, they will also not tolerate under-watering.
You must water them regularly, while also avoiding under-watering and overwatering. If your plant shows any symptoms of wet soil, observe it for a while to be sure and adjust appropriately.
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