Strawberries are a classic, all-time favourite fruit which is easy to grow in even the smallest of home gardens, on a veranda in a pot, or even in hanging baskets.
Home-grown strawberries are guaranteed to have far more flavour than those in supermarkets. The strawberry plants can also look good and add some colour to your garden.
Grow in partial shade to full sun
Strawberries are a cool climate crop, so in winter they will take full sun but in summer they prefer a bit of afternoon shade. One of the benefits of growing them in pots or hanging baskets is that you can move them around throughout the year.
Planting in beds
Winter is a good time to plant your strawberry plants to get them established before spring arrives. Start your new bed with virus-free stock from a nursery.
- Prepare the soil by removing all weeds, old roots and stones.
- Add plenty of compost.
- Plant strawberries 30cm apart in soil that has been mounded above normal level. The roots should be just covered when planting (too deep and they can rot).
Container planting
If space is at a premium, strawberries can be grown in pots or hanging baskets. There are also special strawberry pots available that have several planting sections.
- Once you’ve chosen your pot or basket, make sure it’s in a sunny spot.
- Plant your strawberries into well drained soil.
- Keep the soil moist as the plants establish.
Feeding
Fertilise in autumn with compost and worm castings if available. Apply liquid seaweed fortnightly- it protects the leaves from frosts and pests plus sweetens the fruit.
Mulching
The natural alternative is clean straw mulch, sugarcane or lucerne. which can be added closely around the plants. This also helps keep the soil moist and the berries away from the soil where they might rot.
Watering
Keep the soil moist by watering regularly, but avoid over-watering, as this can cause the fruit to rot and attract snails. When the bulk of the harvest is nearly ripe, watering too much can cause a decrease in flavour.
Disease
Strawberry plants are prone to getting viral and fungal diseases, so don’t let them become overcrowded and remove dead leaves and weeds to reduce the risk. Removing dead leaves from strawberry plants during fruiting season also increases fruit production.
Harvesting
Different varieties will be ready to harvest at different times. You can expect to pick the first fruit 20-35 days after the flowers appear. Harvest the fruit regularly as it ripens quickly. Strawberry plants will be productive for 3-4 years, after that they’ll need to be replaced (preferably in a new site).
