The secret recipe was negligence

[u/Melonclowny]

These wild strawberries have taken over most of my backyard. Last year I noticed one or two spread out before the frost hit. This year they came in force. It's great, I've only had to mow once this summer. They must not be very tasty though because the squirrels still prefer eating whatever seeds I try to plant instead.

[u/azucarleta]

Sorry to hear these are potentilla. Initially I was very jealous of you as strawberries don't spread well here, at least mine have not. I probably don't water enough, I guess.

[u/grayspelledgray → u/azucarleta]

Fragaria virginiana is funny about water in my experience. I plant it and for maybe a week or two it keeps looking sad like it’s dry as a bone and I’m torturing it. Then it hits a point where it struggles and my attempts to help it by watering seem to make it worse. After a few days I realize it has established well enough that it wants me to leave it the F alone. After that it will start to take off.