How to Grow Your Strawberry Plants

Summer fruiting strawberry plants crop over a very short period, not much more than three weeks. Perpetual strawberries however, produce three flushes of fruit, cropping throughout the entire summer.

The majority of shop-bought strawberries in the UK have been grown abroad and transported all the way from the Canary Islands to England - strawberries do not travel well. The taste of home-grown garden strawberries is undoubtedly a hundred times better than the commercial varieties. Have a go at growing your own strawberries with GardenAction know-how, hints and tips.

Where To Grow
Frost is the first thought when considering where to grow strawberry plants in your garden. They are very hardy plants during the winter but are not so hardy when they burst into life in spring. Strawberries produces flowers early in the Spring and because they are close to the ground, it is important to position strawberries where they have least risk of frost. The highest ground is always the best. Frost damage when they start into growth will occur if the temperature drops below -2°C or -4°C with cloche or poly-tunnel protection.

Strawberries are ideal fruit for benefiting from the use of cloches to produce earlier and better fruit. Click here if you want to buy cloches online from our approved suppliers. Alternatively, click here to go to our in depth article on how to select and use cloches with specific details on how and when to use cloches on strawberries to produce earlier and better fruit.

The next considerations are sun and wind - grow them in the sunniest position in the garden and in the least windy. Too much wind and insects will be unable to pollinate the plants. One tip, don't plant strawberries where peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and potatoes have been grown - these plants could pass on verticillium wilt, a serious strawberry disease. Neither should strawberries be grown on land which has recently had grass growing on it - there will undoubtedly be a large number of wireworms on such land who will enjoy eating your strawberries long before you get your chance!

Strawberries grow very well in raised beds. The soil retains the moisture that they so love but at the same time there is no waterlogging. Strawberries in particular start to rot in waterlogged conditions. Where a raised bed is used, feed the soil with liquid tomato fertiliser every two weeks.

Harrods Horticultural have an excellent range of attractive raised beds. We have negotiated a 10% discount for Garden Action readers on the two most popular in their range. Click here to go to our page on raised beds and the link to claim your discount.

Soil Preparation
Strawberries do not produce deep roots, but they very much appreciate their soil being well-dug to a spades depth. Prepare the soil at least one month before planting. Incorporate as much organic matter as possible and include two handfuls of bonemeal per square metre (yard). A few days before planting apply the recommended dose of general fertiliser such as Growmore. Strawberries are greedy feeders over a relatively short period of time.

When To Plant
Summer fruiting strawberries (the type seen in most shops) can be planted in early September or early April. The best results undoubtedly come from planting in early September, although if your area suffers heavy winter frosts, it is best to wait until mid April. Perpetual strawberries should be planted in mid April. 

For both types, wait until the soil is crumbly and not water-logged.

Where poly-tunnels or cloches are used, strawberries can be raised about 3 weeks earlier than those without protection. Click here to buy a poly-tunnel or cloche now from GardenAction's preferred online supplier.

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