Top 7 Best Fertilizer for Strawberries (2020 Review)

Perfect for smoothies, breakfast, a snack, or as part of a dessert, there is nothing quite like fresh strawberries, especially if they come straight from your very own strawberry plant. On average a single strawberry plant can yield between one hundred and fifty and four hundred grams per year, mostly within its usual growing season. That means if you maintain your plant well and opt for a high producing species, chances are you will have quite a nice harvest with even just a few plants.

This output can even be bolstered and improved upon with the help of some high-quality tools. Fertilizers, for one, can make a massive difference in the size and quality of your produce output if used correctly. Let’s take a moment to learn a little about fertilizers and figure out what types will best suit your strawberry crop and personal growing preferences. Here are some of the best fertilizer for strawberries products you can pick up easily online!

A Bit About Strawberry Fertilization

When looking at strawberries, there are a few things you may notice concerning their growth cycle. For starters, they typically need a lot of nitrogen early on in their life cycle. This can be achieved by preparing the soil before planting your seeds or seedlings by incorporating a little fertilizer or compost to provide aeration and nutrient balancing.

As strawberries grow, supporting them with some fertilizing efforts can greatly increase their output, especially if they are late producing varieties that could otherwise suffer a bit from the spring and summer heat. You should select fertilizers based upon what time of the year you are planting your berries and what species you are trying to grow. Most species can use the same product but some do require a bit more maintenance and are a little bit pickier than the average classic strawberry plant (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry).

Organic fertilizer for strawberries is one of the most common options since it supports growth without introducing potentially harmful chemicals into the soil or groundwater. It also allows you to produce better quality and better tasting fruit, which is certainly a plus considering the base idea of planting strawberries is to eventually produce an edible crop.

It is important to not over-fertilize your plants. Not only can using too much fertilizer result in your strawberry plant’s roots becoming burned, but it could also actually play a role in instigating the spread of disease. Over-fertilized plants usually become incredibly leafy, which allows bacterial and fungal growths to spread. This could potentially damage an entire plant or even your whole crop so while bigger may seem better, it is a good idea to always follow the directions on your fertilizer of choice’s packaging.

Understanding these ideas and the general life cycle of strawberry plants before beginning your venture with plant growth can help ensure your plants are successful and your venture fruitful. If you are here reading this, chances are you are putting in the effort to research how to grow a wonderful crop, which is certainly a massive step towards having a successful, delicious berry harvest very soon!

Our Overall #1 Fertilizer for Strawberries

Winchester Gardens Select Organics Berry Granular Fertilizer

As a whole, this Winchester Gardens fertilizer is a fantastic choice for all berry species that do well in slightly acidic soil. The formula is organic and caters to those looking for a natural, gentle approach to providing growth support to crop-based berry plants like strawberries and blueberries. Perfect for both indoor and outdoor growing, this fertilizer for blueberries works by creating a good nutritional balance in the soil via nitrogen stimulation and by introducing a safe dose of ammonium nitrate.

This formula also works to help support microorganism growth, which can be beneficial in keeping an ongoing source of nitrogen aeration within the root system and in preventing the spread of root damaging bacterial and fungal infections within the plants and surrounding crops. Designed to promote all-around growth, the goal of this product is to assist in creating a healthy root system, hardy stem zone, and healthy leaves and fruit when the time comes.

According to the packaging, this product contains a blend of animal and plant products, meaning it is not vegan but still a powerful additive that can make a massive impression on the quality and longevity of your plant’s growing period. Things like bone meal, feather meal, potassium chloride, sulfate of potash magnesia, and other growth-promoting agents all play a role in the beneficial impact of this amazing product. Plus, it is extremely easy to use and includes a scooping spoon for ease of measurement to ensure you are never at risk of under-fertilizing or over-fertilizing your plants. One of the only downsides is that many who prefer non-solid fertilizers have issues making this product work as a wet fertilizer when mixed with water, which means it is not one of the best liquid fertilizers for strawberries.
Pros:

Very powerful formula
Measuring tool included
Good for a variety of berries

Cons:

Not vegan
Some reports of dosing being incorrect
Reports of root damage with smaller potted plants

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Here is a video that will show you how to fertilize everbearing strawberries:

The Best Fertilizer for Strawberries

When you are shopping for strawberry fertilizers, you want something that will get the job done with minimal effort on your behalf. Let’s explore some of the best fertilizer for growing strawberries options and see which will best suit your unique needs and preferences.

The top best product [hide]

AgroThrive Organic Fertilizer

Suitable for organic growth and certified with the “big three” of organic production, the OMRI, CDFA, and WSDA, this product is fantastic for promoting growth and fruit formation by enriching the soil and enhancing the overall quality of the plant’s given growing conditions. With a 3-3-5 ratio specifically chosen to help bolster the growth of fruit, vegetables, and flowers, the product’s formula is derived from fish and grain byproducts to give both fast-acting immediate growth improvement and longterm slow-release support for ongoing production and growth comfort levels. Additionally, this product works to improve the microflora of the soil, resulting in larger, better-tasting fruits, and a longer production period for most plant species. As a liquid concentrate, this fertilizer is easy to introduce to the soil and mixes in fairly evenly, much like water does when it is time to hydrate your plants. Since the formula is seventy percent fast release, meaning you will get a nice burst of fresh growth following the initial introduction of the product, and thirty percent slow-release, allowing the plant to continue this growth uninhibited.

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EcoScraps for Organic Gardening Berry Plant Food

Formulated specifically for aiding in the growth of berry plants, including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries, this is one of the best organic fertilizer for strawberries options out there due to its careful formulation and exemplary quality control. Each particle is guaranteed to have the same chemical makeup like every other, creating a perfectly equal fertilization system that works to evenly distribute the compounds through the dirt regardless of where they land. This product is made from recycled leftovers from all parts of the food production cycle, cutting down food waste in the process and curating an environmentally friendly based company that helps to enhance your plants and the world at the same time. The slow-acting formula works perfectly for helping overall growth without any sudden spikes in production that could otherwise damage the fruit production cycle.

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Greenway Biotech Strawberry Fertilizer

Despite being a specialty brand, this Strawberry Fertilizer from Greenway Biotech is surprisingly affordable and incredibly high quality. It has a ratio of 8-12-32, indicating levels of 8% nitrogen, 12% phosphorous, and 32% potassium, along with other trace minerals including Boron, Copper EDTA, Iron EDTA, Manganese EDTA, Zinc EDTA, and Molybdenum. Along with this, the formula is also professionally formulated by biochemists, ensuring it can live up to its many specification claims. What makes this product special is the fact that it can be used both in soil and in hydroponic setups. This means that those who opt for a hydroponic or semi-aquatic form of strawberry growth, which is becoming more and more popular in recent years, can use this fertilizer without any need for modification, as it is soluble enough to be utilized by the plants effectively. Plus, the entire formula is heavy metal-free and safe for contact with groundwater and other similar areas.

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SUPERthrive Plant Food for All Plants

Designed around the concept that the nutrients left by oceanic fish are nutritionally superior to many other land-based alternatives, SUPERthrive Plant Food is a tool utilized by both hobbyists and professionals alike due to its ability to provide powerful, direct care to both healthy plants and damaged ones alike. Some people actually use this as a sort of medicinal supplement for plants that are failing to thrive, adding a small amount to the water to ensure they receive a powerful dose of liquid nutrients. As one of the best fertilizers for strawberries in containers and in the ground alike, this could actually be called one of the best fertilizers for growing strawberries in general. Its naturally derived ingredients help to nitrogen boost the soil and provide a good basis for root and leaf growth in even severely damaged plants. Many reviewers note this actually brought their plants back from death’s door in some cases! Plus, it is a fungal and pesticide!

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Indian River Organics OMRI Listed Organic

Certified as organic from the OMRI, this product is great for those looking for a naturalistic approach to berry farming. This affordable bulk option is a fantastic liquid formula that works well for young and mature plants alike, assisting with growth for both seedlings and well established, adult plants that are ready to bear fruit or are in the process of beginning to produce berries. This product is free of contaminants and sourced from the waste of healthy, food quality fish raised in humane conditions. It is entirely free of mercury and chlorine and is safe for pets and children due to its unique chemical composition. Plus, the brand backs the product with a money-back guarantee if you are at all dissatisfied with the results the product is capable of producing, meaning if it does not work or somehow damages your crop, you can recuperate the money you spent on this product easily and without complaint from the brand. You literally have nothing to lose in giving this fertilizer a shot and so much to potentially gain!

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Down To Earth 6-Pound Acid Mix

This brand recommends using this product in the early spring to help support lush flowering and fruit production for the coming growing season. Created by Down to Earth, this acidic mix is fantastic for strawberries and can help increase the size of the fruit and duration of the growing season in just one application if it meshes well with the quality of soil you currently have. It also works to support ongoing growth and leaf formation, enhancing the overall health of the plant for seasons to come. While not wholly organic, this product does harness many of the same ingredients that organic brands do. They opt to use a chemically derived add-in, 2.5% Humic Acids derived from Leonardite, to assist in curating a perfectly acidic environment. Aside from this, the typical ingredients include bone meal, fish meal, cottonseed meal, rock phosphate, and kelp meal, all of which are common to most fertilizer brands.

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Miracle-Gro Fruit & Citrus Plant Food Spikes

If you are looking for an easier approach to fertilizing your strawberry plants, this Miracle-Gro product might be the perfect fit for you. Amazing for potted strawberry plants, these food spikes are simple to use and deliver continued fertilization without requiring any additional work on your part. Simply stick the correct number of spikes for your pot size into the dirt and you are all set! The fertilizer will gradually spread as you water your plant and, in some cases, your plant will be fully fertilized for up to three months! Many do report issues with this method when used in a garden-style, in-ground planting setup. For these more expansive layouts, the spikes can provide uneven fertilization, especially if there is a distance that is unequal between plants or if you use too few or too many spikes per plant location. Due to this, these are not generally suitable for most people to comfortably use if they have a true garden instead of a potted plant, though it is definitely possible.

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Fertilizer for Strawberries – Buying Guide

When you are looking for a good fertilizer for your strawberry crop, it is needless to say that you want something that will work and treat your plants with the same care you have since they began to grow. Fortunately, there are dozens of fantastic products out there that can assist you in creating the perfect gardenscape with a bountiful harvest of stunning, delicious strawberries that no supermarket could dream of matching. Let’s take a look at some of the finer details concerning the fertilization of strawberry plants.

What is the Best Kind of Fertilizer for Strawberries?

In general, you are going to want something that produces a lot of nitrogen in the soil. Something like feather or bone meal can do this really well, as when it breaks down it releases between 13 and 15 percent nitrogen directly. Blood meal similarly releases nitrogen at a rate of 13 percent and is suitable, as well. Most strawberry growers will recommend taking an organic approach when possible due to the changes in the flavor of the berries that occurs with chemical enhancers being introduced to the growth cycle. This means an organic fertilizer for fruit trees will be more desirable for most plant owners.

When Should You Fertilize Strawberry Plants?

The timeline of your fertilization will depend on the species of plant you are hoping to grow. In general, most seasonally producing crops should either be fertilized once at the beginning of the growing period or in three smaller fertilization dosages falling once at the beginning, once mid-way through the season and once just before harvest time.

Still, you must factor in the subspecies and understand how this impacts the growth rate to fully understand when you should fertilize. The most common species you will see will be June-bearing strawberry plants. These are the typical “growing season” varieties mentioned above. Aside from these, you can also pick up everbearing berries that produce small berries at the beginning and end of the season.
Similarly (link), day-neutral plants will continually produce small berries all through the season but curate a smaller overall yield when compared to other berry species.

Other Strawberry Fertilizer Factors

There are, of course, several other things that could impact the growth and production rates of your strawberry plants. In general, the climate and weather will greatly dictate how well your plants do if they are planted directly into a garden. If you know that you sometimes struggle with incliment weather, you can opt for potting your berry plants and seek out one of the best fertilizers for strawberries in containers to assist you in regulating and enhancing their growth, which can sometimes be stunted in such a planting style.

Additionally, regularly weeding the garden area can help prevent nutrients from being stolen from your berry plants. Weeds can suck up all of the good stuff from the soil so be sure to be vigilant. Similarly, running vines should be trimmed from your plants for the same reason; your strawberry plant is wasting energy on these runners that could otherwise be used to create a bigger harvest for you to enjoy!

Fertilizer for Strawberries: FAQs

Can you raise strawberry plants with no fertilizer?

This is an entirely personal question, as some people can grow healthy, bountiful harvests with no fertilizer while others struggle even with it. A lot of the need depends on your soil, which is why it is recommended you take a look at the soil content of your plot or potting set up prior to planting anything via a testing kit. This will give you an idea of what your soil may be lacking and what you can do to keep your plants healthy and happy for growing seasons present and future. For most people, though, a good fertilizer for strawberries can be a massive help and is worth considering.

Our top pick: Winchester Gardens Select Organics Berry Granular Fertilizer

Amazing for both indoor and outdoor plants, this granular based berry formula targets the specific needs of berry-producing plants and works to ensure they have good support for initial growth and ongoing fruit production. Perfect for seedlings or mature plants, this is an excellent organic option that makes for an easy to use tool to have on hand. Plus, reviewers report real results when using it and have claimed to notice a difference in the size, taste, and overall quality of the berries their plants produce, indicating the product is true to the brand’s claims.

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Conclusion

Berry fertilizers are a highly underrated tool that can make a massive difference in the overall health and production rate of your plants.