Overview

The Tristar strawberry plant was developed at the University of Maryland and has become popular with the home gardener for its long bearing season. You can expect the Tristar strawberry plant to bloom in mid-summer after planting and then, in the second year, an early, heavy crop in the spring. Hardy to USDA zone 2 (if covered in the winter) gardeners in zones 9 and 11 may have to grow them as annuals, due to the summer heat. Tristar strawberries are disease resistant and "day neutral" (not affected by the length of the day).

Step 1

Choose a location in the garden that gets sunshine all day. Strawberries require lots of sunshine for best quality.

Step 2

Test your soil's pH. You can purchase an inexpensive soil testing kit at garden centers, or take a sample of your soil to your county extension office for testing. Some nurseries and garden centers also offer soil ph testing. Look for a soil pH of 5.8 to 6.5.

Step 3

Remove the strawberry plants from their pots and place them in a container with enough water to cover their roots.

Step 4

Till the soil in the planting site to a depth of 2 inches, turning it as you go and breaking up any large clods of dirt. Remove any roots, rocks or other debris you find.

Step 5

Amend the soil by adding a 2-inch layer of compost, a 1 inch layer of sand and any other materials suggested by your soil pH analysis. Mix these in well with the existing soil.

Step 6

Build a small mound of soil for each strawberry plant, one foot apart. Place the plant on top of the mound and fan the roots all the way around. Lightly pat more soil over the roots to cover them. The roots should be just barely covered. Make sure that the crown of the plant, the short stem between the roots and leaves, is exposed.

Step 7

Add a layer of mulch around the mounds. This is a very important step as the mulch will not only help to keep the soil warm, but it helps to keep the soil in place around the Tristar strawberry plant's roots when you water.

Step 8

Water the strawberry plants well and then give them one inch of water per week.