The Gardeners Guide to Growing Strawberries: How to Choose the Best Strawberry Fertilizer

Strawberries are a beloved fruit, perfect for pies, jams, or eating fresh. To grow a healthy, bountiful crop, however, strawberry plants require the right balance of nutrients. Too few or too many nutrients can hinder plant growth and fruit quality.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to cultivate your healthiest strawberry plants, including:

• When and how to fertilize your strawberry plants for optimal growth
• The importance of nutrient balance, especially nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK)
• How excess nitrogen can lead to soft berries prone to disease
• The role of potassium in disease resistance and sugar transport, and phosphorus in root and flower development
• The benefits of micronutrients like manganese, copper, and zinc for healthy plant processes
• How to choose the best strawberry fertilizer, including Greenway Biotech’s 8-12-32 formulation, ideal for soil, hydroponics, or foliar feeding
• Tips on fertilizing strawberries in containers and raised beds
• The significance of soil testing to tailor your fertilization strategy
• Step-by-step guidance for fertilizing in various stages: planting, vegetative growth, flowering, fruit development, and post-harvest recovery

By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to grow strong, vibrant strawberry plants and enjoy a delicious, fruitful harvest.

What to Look for in the Best Strawberry Fertilizer

Let’s start with a quick overview of what you should look for in the best strawberry fertilizer. There are two things to consider here - the nutritional needs of your crop along with the key features of a quality nutrient solution. 

Overview of Strawberry Fertilizer NPK

Before selecting a fertilizer, it’s important to understand the nutritional needs of strawberry plants to ensure healthy growth throughout their cycle. Nitrogen is essential for developing strong stems and lush leaves, but too much can lead to soft, disease-prone berries, so maintaining the right balance is key. Hydroponic strawberries are easier to fertilize since you can control nutrient levels precisely. Along with nitrogen, strawberries need potassium and phosphorus to reach their full potential. Potassium strengthens the plant’s defenses against disease, activates enzymes, and helps transport sugars, while phosphorus supports root development, bud formation, and fruit production. Additionally, micronutrients like manganese (aiding photosynthesis), copper (supporting nutrient metabolism), and zinc (activating enzymes) are critical for overall plant health. The best fertilizers provide a balance of these macronutrients and micronutrients, ensuring your strawberry plants thrive from root to fruit.

Key features to look for in a strawberry fertilizer:

• Nitrogen: Encourages strong stems and leaves, but must be balanced to avoid soft berries.
• Potassium: Boosts disease resistance, enzyme activity, and sugar transport.
• Phosphorus: Aids in root and bud development and fruit production.
• Micronutrients: Manganese (photosynthesis), copper (nutrient metabolism), and zinc (enzyme activation).

What Separates the Best Fertilizer for Strawberries From the Rest?

A high-quality fertilizer contains the "big three" nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. However, a good fertilizer contains a balanced amount of nitrogen so you don't overwhelm your plant.

Your plants need plenty of potassium and phosphorus, so you need a fertilizer that gets your plants through the growing season.

A mixture of micronutrients fortifies your plant with anything they don't get from the NPK blend.

Once you know how to fertilize strawberries in soil, you might want to challenge yourself with a hydroponic setup.

A good fertilizer is water-soluble, meaning that you can mix it with water and feed it to your plants directly. The water gives the roots instant access to the nutrients so they can grow big and healthy without soil.

It might appear to go without saying, but a good fertilizer is also environmentally friendly. Some fertilizers contain harsh chemicals and additives that pollute the environment and make the soil acidic. High-quality fertilizers feature natural ingredients that feed your plants without compromising the natural region.

What is the Best Fertilizer for Strawberries?

There’s a lot that goes into choosing the best strawberry fertilizer, and there are tons of options at your disposal. This can leave you feeling overwhelmed - so let’s simplify things. What is the best fertilizer for strawberries? Look no further than our solution here at Greenway Biotech.

Optimal Nutrient Composition

We’ve made sure to optimize the NPK ratio to the specific needs of strawberry plants at 8-12-32. This promotes strong root development and plant structure alongside vibrant foliage, setting the stage for high-quality fruit production.

• Nitrogen (8%) builds strong vegetative growth to support the development of large, healthy berries.
• Phosphorus (12%) aids in root development and improves flower formation, directly impacting the quantity and quality of the fruits.
• Potassium (32%) supports fruit development and overall plant health, enhancing the size, taste, and color of the strawberries.

Micronutrients for Enhanced Growth

Apart from macronutrients, this fertilizer is enriched with chelated forms of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, manganese, and copper. 

These facilitate various plant processes including photosynthesis, enzyme function, and nutrient metabolism, ensuring that your plants are healthy and capable of producing abundant, flavorful fruits.

• Iron supports chlorophyll production and functions in energy transfer within the plant.
• Zinc contributes to hormone production and internode elongation.
• Manganese aids in the photosynthesis process and metabolism of nitrogen.
• Copper influences reproductive growth and enhances fruit quality.

Environmentally Friendly and Safe

Like all our solutions, this fertilizer is formulated with the highest standards and is free from heavy metals and harmful toxins. We’re committed to environmental sustainability and want your fruits to be only delicious but also safe and healthy to consume.

Simple, Versatile Application

Another reason this is the best fertilizer for strawberries is how easy it is to use across different conditions and applications - including soil, hydroponics, and foliar applications. 

Its water-soluble nature ensures that nutrients are immediately available to the plant roots, promoting faster and more effective absorption. We’ll talk more about how to fertilize strawberries in just a moment, but here’s a brief overview of the application guidelines:

• Soil Application: Apply 3 grams per plant every 4-6 weeks from planting to just before the first harvest. For larger areas, apply 24 to 38 pounds per acre in a similar timeframe.
• Foliar Application: Begin with 1 gram per plant every 1-2 weeks post-emergence of the true leaves, adjusting to 8 to 13 pounds per acre for larger applications.

Whether you're a home gardener or a commercial grower, this is the best strawberry fertilizer. It provides exactly what your strawberries need to thrive and produce the best possible yield. Now, we want to offer a few tips on making the most of it - starting with when to fertilize strawberries.

When to Fertilize Strawberries

Part of learning how to grow juicy strawberries is understanding the role of timing in nutrition. Your plant’s nutritional needs evolve as it grows, which is why you need to apply the right fertilizer at different times. Here’s how you can schedule your feedings:

Initial Planting Phase

This initial feeding gives new plants a solid foundation of nutrients that support root establishment and early growth. Use a balanced fertilizer that provides a gentle introduction of nutrients to young plants without overwhelming them.

Vegetative Growth Stage

Strawberry plants need more nitrogen to support rapid vegetative growth as they start to grow leaves and stems. 

You can support this by applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer approximately four weeks after planting. This encourages strong, healthy foliage to support fruit development later in the season.

Pre-Flowering and Flowering Stage

Strawberries benefit from a boost in phosphorus and potassium just before and during the flowering stage. These nutrients help your plant develop strong flowers and subsequently, the fruits themselves. 

Fruit Development Stage

Once strawberries begin setting fruit, continue with regular feeding every four to six weeks. During this stage, maintaining a balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is important to support both the growth of the fruit and the overall health of the plant. This also helps improve the quality and size of the strawberries.

Post-Harvest Replenishment

After the final harvest, it's beneficial to apply a lighter, balanced fertilizer to help plants recover and prepare for the next growing season. 

This application replenishes nutrients that were depleted during fruit production and supports the development of new growth in preparation for dormancy and the next growing cycle.

How to Fertilize Strawberries: Step-by-Step Guide

Learning how to fertilize strawberries isn’t as simple as sprinkling some of the best strawberry fertilizer every so often. We’ll walk you through best practices in general along with specific recommendations for potted plants and raised beds.

Fertilizing Potted Strawberries

• Measure the Fertilizer: Use 3 grams (about half a teaspoon) of Greenway Biotech's Strawberry Fertilizer 8-12-32 per plant. This offers the perfect amount of nutrients without over-concentration, which is especially important in container environments.
• Dilute in Water: Mix the measured fertilizer in water to make it easier for the roots to absorb the nutrients and prevent root burn. Ensure the solution is well-diluted according to the package instructions.
• Apply to the Soil: Water the base of the plants with the fertilizer solution, avoiding the leaves and stems to minimize the risk of burning the foliage.
• Timing: Fertilize your potted strawberries every two weeks during the active growing season, typically from early spring through to the end of summer.
• Assess Plant Health: Regularly check your plants for signs of nutrient deficiencies or excesses. Adjust the fertilization frequency and amount based on the plant’s response.

Fertilizing Strawberries in Raised Beds

• Pre-application Prep: Water the soil in your raised beds before applying fertilizer to ensure it mixes well and doesn’t clump on dry soil.
• Broadcast Fertilizer: Evenly sprinkle the Greenway Biotech Strawberry Fertilizer across the soil surface, focusing on the areas under the leaf canopy where the roots spread.
• Incorporate into Soil: Lightly hoe or rake the fertilizer into the top few inches of soil to mix it in and reduce the loss of nutrients to the air.
• Water After Application: Irrigate the bed thoroughly after applying the fertilizer. This helps to dissolve the nutrients and carry them down to the root zone.
• Repeat During Growing Season: Apply the fertilizer every four to six weeks during the growing season. This schedule supports continuous growth and fruit production

The Role of Soil Testing

If you haven’t already, it’s worth taking the time to test your soil before feeding your strawberries. This helps you understand the existing nutrient content and pH level of your soil, so you can tailor your fertilization strategy to meet the specific needs of your plants. 

Testing helps detect both deficiencies and excesses of nutrients, preventing the over-application of fertilizers which can harm plant growth and the environment. Strawberries thrive in slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5 to 6.8). 

So, gather soil samples from various points within your growing area and send them to a professional lab for accurate results. You can even send your soil test results our way and we’ll make recommendations to set you up for success. Better yet, we go as far as helping commercial growers with specific formulas matching their soil needs!

Get the Best Fertilizer for Strawberries at Greenway Biotech Today and Enjoy Your Tastiest, Heaviest Harvest Yet!

Optimizing your crop’s quality and yield requires the best strawberry fertilizer, meticulous timing, and careful application. Hopefully, this guide has left you with a clear understanding of how to feed your strawberries effectively.

Tailored to enhance fruit size, taste, and nutritional content, our formula supports every stage - from root development to bountiful harvests. With an environmentally friendly approach and a commitment to quality, our fertilizer is the smart choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.

Whether you need the best fertilizer for strawberries or the best tomato fertilizer, the best fertilizer for peppers, or anything in between, remember that Greenway Biotech has the specifically formulated solutions you need for your best crop yet.

Our fertilizers are great for home growing and commercial cultivation alike, and we have so many different styles to choose from:

• Hydroponic nutrients
• Organic fertilizer
• Specialty fertilizer
• Water soluble fertilizer

Not sure which is right for you? Don’t hesitate to reach out as our customer service team is on standby ready to help you reach your gardening goals. Happy growing!