After the circle is dug, gently lift the plants out, shake as much dirt and debris off of the roots as possible, and then cut or pull off all the leaves. You only need to inspect a few strawberry plants.

Use the trowel to dig a circle around the strawberry plants you are going to examine. a sharp and sturdy knife (a box cutter works well)Īfter you’ve gathered your tools, go to your strawberry bed. a piece of a 2×4 (or other hard surface)ģ. If your region experiences a warm period followed by a significant drop in temperature, checking your strawberry plants may be in order. Checking Strawberry Plants for Cold Damage If extensive damage is found, replanting your strawberry beds may be necessary (you can purchase some here, if needed: strawberry plants). After a cold snap, it can be critical to check a sample of planted strawberry plants to determine an appropriate course of action. So, determining the extent of any cold injury is critical. A small amount of temperature-induced damage will not kill your strawberry plants or significantly decrease their strawberry production if the plants are otherwise healthy. And, while some damage is common, it is important to determine the extent of such injury. Any time a plant survives the winter months, the late winter fluctuations in temperature put such plants at risk of freeze damage.

Strawberry plants and cold injury are common partners. When temperatures rise and revive dormant strawberry plants and then precipitously fall again, strawberry plants can suffer cold injury or “frost damage.” This post will guide you through the process of determining the degree and significance of cold damage on strawberry plants in your garden. And, unfortunately, strawberry plants are susceptible to being damaged by cold temperatures if they are not prepared for them. But, a brief period of warmer temperatures can happen before the warmer weather is consistent. When temperatures increase, strawberry plants revive and begin increasing their plant metabolism. They slow their cellular processes, move into a state of plant “hibernation,” and are dormant until warmer temperatures return in the late winter or early spring of the next year. These traits make strawberry plants hardy perennials.Īs the temperatures drop in the fall or winter, strawberry plants undergo a transformation. With appropriate care, they can live for many years, and they can survive very cold winter temperatures. One of the benefits of growing strawberry plants is that they don’t die off every year.

Just My Luck by Alice Winters