Is It Time for Your Straw to Skedaddle?
As temperatures rise and spring approaches, you may be wondering: When is the right time to remove straw from your strawberry plants?
Keeping mulch on as long as possible helps protect plants from spring frost damage but leaving it too long can have drawbacks. Delayed mulch removal slows plant growth, postpones harvest, and may reduce yield. Removing straw at the right time allows sunlight and air to reach your plants, signaling them to break dormancy and kick-start spring growth.
We recommend checking on your plants under your straw once soil temperatures reach 40°F (note: air and soil temperatures differ). Inspect all sections of your strawberry rows; the edges of rows tend to grow more quickly in the spring than the rest of the row. If you grow more than one variety, check the early fruiting varieties first, as they will likely have earlier growth than later fruiting varieties.
Color-Coded Decision Making
If you see new, green foliage under your straw, it's a good thing! This is a sign that your plants are responding to the warmer temperatures, and the straw is ready to be removed.
If you see foliage that appears yellow-white, it's okay! The color indicates that the plants are trying to grow without sunlight. Remove the straw immediately to expose the plants to sunlight and allow air circulation.
If you see no new foliage growth, don't sweat it! Depending on your location, it may be too early in the season for new foliage development. Check your strawberry plants every few days for new growth. Look at the forecast for your local area to determine if a cold event is predicted for the next few days. If there is, consider delaying straw removal by a few days.
Helpful Hints from Nourse Farms Experts
Check the Forecast Before You Uncover!
Be mindful of spring's habit of having wonky weather patterns. Before removing the straw, check your local weather to ensure warmer temperatures are predicted. If freezing temperatures are forecasted, leave mulch on your strawberry plants as protection, even if new foliage growth is present.
Early Removal? Handle with Care!
Early removal of straw mulch can allow earlier fruit development, but it requires more TLC! Flower buds lose hardiness as they develop. Early growth requires attention to temperature fluctuations and preparation with frost protection, such as floating row cover, for when temperatures drop. Early-ripening strawberry varieties flower early and are susceptible to cold temperatures. If the earliest blossoms develop without damage, they will produce the largest berries.
Don’t Toss that Straw—Reuse It!
Don't move the straw too far away! Use your winter protection straw mulch in your strawberry rows! Place straw beneath and surrounding the plants. Leaving a straw layer beneath the plants serves multiple purposes:
- water retention
- weed suppression
- keeping roots cooler in the summer
- keeping berries clean by preventing soil contact
Choosing the Variety That's Right For You
Do you still need to order strawberry plants for the 2025 growing season? We've got you covered! Strawberries are easy to grow—even for beginners. Strawberries are low maintenance once established, and with a little care, you'll enjoy a bountiful harvest year after year.
If you're looking to win a blue ribbon for your strawberry pie, we recommend growing Earliglow, Honeoye, Cavendish, Jewel, and Sparkle.
If you want a lot of berries, we recommend AC Wendy, Yambu, Honeoye, Darselect, Evie-2, Albion, and San Andreas.
If you have limited space and want to grow in hanging baskets, day-neutrals are your best bet. We recommend Seascape, Evie-2, and Mara des Bois.
If you are growing in containers and pots, some popular, easy-to-grow varieties are Earliglow, Sparkle, Jewel, Honeoye, and Allstar.
If you live somewhere with pretty harsh winters, you'll want to plant AC Wendy, Annapolis, Honeoye, Cavendish, or Sparkle.
If you're a true beginner, you'll want to plant Allstar or Sparkle. If you're ready to level up your strawberry growing game, go for Annapolis or Cabot.
If you're not sure what you want, give us a call at 1-877-NFBERRY (632-3779) or email us at info@noursefarms.com! Our team is here to help you find the right berries for your garden.
