
Raised beds for sberries works out very well. If you are planting June bearers in early spring. you will get a crop the same year. I would leave them in same bed 1 or two years then rotate. Actually doing it this way opens a bed up for garden crops while lessoning the chance for soil born deseases or you could cover crop in between.I always have plenty of starter plants. Last year I started a new bed and did not allow a first year crop. The experts recommend this . I use Bone , meal , soft rock phosphate , good compost , rabbit manure , green sand.
Let me put this bee in everyones bonnet , I use Kaolin clay sprayed on my furit trees and grapes. I also use it on strawberries after they have blossomed. it goes by trade names such as " surround wp " It acts as an insect and to some extent desease barrier. I believe that it also helps to relieve heat stress. I am not sure how that would effect our southern gardens. If I lived in a hot climate I would at least give it a try. It turns the plant a ghostly white. We all know white reflects the suns hot rays. Sorry for running on. John from the shores of Lake Huron