10 Reasons To Grow Your Own Strawberries

10.  Home-grown strawberries often taste better.

Commercial strawberry growing operations exist to turn a profit.  Nothing wrong with that, of course.  It is what all businesses do.  But, in order to maximize their profits, they generally select strawberry plant varieties that produce durable, shippable strawberries in high numbers.  They usually have decent flavor, but your own strawberries usually taste noticeably better.  

9.  It is cheaper to buy strawberry plants than strawberries in the store.

There are plenty of people who offer very affordable strawberry plants for sale.  While the prices vary depending on the seller and quantity purchased and variety, ten to twenty-five strawberry plants can often be purchased for less than $20.00 and can even be found for under $10.00.  Usually, 25 strawberry plants will adequately supply a family of four with strawberries.  Just a few strawberry purchases in the grocery store will likely cost more (see our Strawberry Buying Guide to make the most of your money if buying retail strawberries).

8.  Strawberry plants are perennial.

That means you get a return on your investment year after year!  If the procedures mentioned on the Growing Strawberriespage are followed, you’ll likely be able to stretch a single of purchase of strawberry plants for many years before needing to buy more.  So, the decision to grow your own strawberries can pay dividends for many years by saving money that you would have spent on expensive grocery store strawberries.

7.  Strawberry plants multiply themselves.

Most varieties of strawberry plants will produce runners.  These runners are a means for a strawberry plant to propagate itself by producing genetically-identical clone plants.  Each strawberry plant will likely put out multiple runners causing your strawberry production capacity to increase exponentially after just buying a handful of strawberry plants initially.  The first time I bought strawberry plants my 25 strawberry plants turned into over 250 strawberry plants after just one year.  That is a return on investment!

6.  Growing your own strawberry plants minimizes waste.

Commercial strawberry growers are concerned about only putting the most beautiful and well-shaped strawberries in their retail packages.  Many people will cast a suspicious eye on a funny-looking strawberry.  Small strawberries are likewise not packaged.  Even though most oddly-shaped or small berries are perfectly good to eat, they are culled by the commercial operations.  By growing your own strawberries, you get to savor the flavor of every strawberry your plants produce, regardless if they are dwarf strawberries or deformed!

5.  Home-grown strawberries require virtually no preparation.

You can pluck them right off the strawberry plant and eat them.  You don’t even have to have a knife to de-cap them if you still have teeth!  But, if you want to do a little extra or have extra strawberries you want to preserve, there are many strawberry recipes you can use.  Who doesn’t like strawberry shortcake?!!  You can also freeze strawberries for later use.

4.  Strawberry plants are small and easy to grow just about anywhere.

You can find a spot to grow strawberry plants if you can see the sun.  Strawberry plants are adaptable to just about everywhere (although optimal conditions produce better strawberries).  You can grow your own strawberries in a garden, flower pot, just about any other container that will hold dirt.  They are a great plant to start with if you are just venturing into the world of gardening or want something that can grow in a pot in a well-lit window.

3.  Store-bought strawberries can be contaminated!

Every year strawberries hold one of the top spots on the “Dirty Dozen” list.  That list (put out annually by the Environmental Working Group) compiles testing data on numerous commonly grown and consumed fruits and vegetables.  Strawberries always rank high for chemicals and pesticides, things you should not consume.  If you grow your own strawberries, you know exactly what you put on them and exactly what you are putting into your body.

2.  Strawberries are good for you!

Strawberries contain numerous vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy body.  There is even evidence that eating strawberries may prevent cancer.  For more information on the nutritional benefits of strawberries, see the nutrition section on the Strawberry Plant page.

1.  Everyone loves fresh strawberries.

The person who doesn’t like strawberries is a rare find.  Strawberries are almost universally enjoyed.  Why not make the world a happier place by growing your own strawberries and sharing a few with a neighbor?  They’ll appreciate it!