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How to Grow Strawberries

A guide to growing Strawberries in gardens, allotments and containers

Strawberries

Family/Latin Name	Ericaceae - Fragaria virginiana
Type of Plant	Perennial herbaceous
Suitable for	Gardens, Allotments, Containers, Growbags
Recommended Forms	Plants
Jump to:- Pests & Diseases

Growing Strawberries - Details

See also:- Fruit Growing Glossary | Tree Forms | Container Growing | Buying Plants

Site and Soil	Prefer full sun and well drained fertile soils Suitable for containers, troughs, hanging baskets growbags
Plant Dimensions	Height: up to 30cm/12" - Spread: up to 30cm/12"
Yield	Up to 450g/1lb per plant
Time between planting and harvesting	2-year-old plants: Produce the season after planting
Planting Time	Best June to September Alternative October to March (soil conditions permitting)
Number of plants needed for pollination	1
How to plant - Open ground	Space plants 38cm/18" apart. If planting in rows, plant rows ate least 60cm/2ft apart to aid harvesting. Dig a hole large enough to the the roots making sure the crowns are at soil level then fill the hole with soil, firming the plants in well. Mulch with a 2.5cm/1" layer of compost. Water in.
How to plant - in containers	1 plant per container size minimum 20cm/8" wide x 15cm/6" deep. Make sure there are plenty of drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Fill the container with soil or a loam based compost within 2.5cm/1" of the top of the container and plant making sure the crowns are at soil level. Firm well and water in.
Aftercare	Protect from birds with netting. Replace strawberry plants every 4-5 years with new plants taken from runners provided the parent plants are healthy. Apply a liquid feed every 14 days once the fruit begin to swell and water when necessary watering the base of the plants only to avoid the risk of fungal diseases. As the fruit being to weight down the trusses, place a shallow layer of straw or special strawberry mats beneath the plants to keep the fruit off the soil. Leave doing this as late as possible.

	After harvesting, cut off old leaves and any runners not needed for propagation and remove the straw or mat protection.
	Harvesting	Pick individual fruit as and when they ripen with calyx (green stalk) in tact. Harvesting usually takes place between July and September depending on the cultivar.
	Propagation	Although strawberries can be grown from seed, better results are achieved by using the runners which plants through out. These can be given a helping hand by pegging them to the ground or onto a sunken pot filled with compost close to the new leaf growth in June/July. Once they have rooted, usually by August, sever from the parent plant and replant in their permanent positions.

Strawberry Pests & Diseases

Pests	Diseases
Birds - like to eat the berries which can decimate the crop. Protect with netting, cotton or cages. Aphids can cause leaves to curl. There are chemicals available to combat aphids which can be bought at garden centres. Organic methods include spraying with diluted washing up liquid ( 1 teasp per 2 litres of water), companion planting of flowers such as marigolds nearby.	Grey Mould (Botrytis) - Berries rot and are covered with a fluffy growth. Avoid damp or humid conditions and if the bush is congested with too much leafy growth, prune to permit air to circulate. Spray with Copper Fungicide after the flowers have opened

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