How much water do strawberries require weekly?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Strawberry plants require approximately 1 inch of water during the week depending on many variables including the growth stage and type of soil. I learned this the hard way when I watered my *Albion* plants using the sprinkler system, my plants developed a leaf spot just a few days later. Using drip irrigation and moisture meters is the way to go!
Drip Irrigation
- Prevents leaf diseases
- Delivers 0.5 gallons/hour per plant
- Reduces evaporation by 40%
Overhead Sprinklers
- Risks: Fungal issues
- Wastes 30% water to runoff
- Avoid after flowering
Soil characteristics are a major factor in how quickly your soil will absorb water. For example, I have a clay plot that requires watering every five days, whereas sandy beds require watering every 2 days. A simple way to check how dry your soil is to use the finger test: if the top inch crumbles as you dig your fingers in, it is time to give it a deep soaking. Container plants should be checked daily - I lost a crop to root rot from my failure to do so.
Overwatered Plants
- Yellow leaves with soft roots
- Fix: Let soil dry 2 inches deep
- Tool: Moisture probe
Underwatered Plants
- Crispy leaf edges
- Fix: Soak soil for 30 mins
- Tool: Soaker hose
Smart controllers are available as one option to automate watering by observing the weather conditions. My system uses local rain data and saved 300 gallons of water last season. If you have smaller plots you can use basic timers for $15. Always water in the early morning, I used to water in the evening and changed to early morning - it reduced slug damage from my plants by 60%.
Read the full article: How to Grow Strawberries: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
