Growing Strawberry Plants

Fragaria : Rosaceae / the rose family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P P            

(Best months for growing Strawberry Plants in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Easy to grow. Plant with crown (of roots) just covered.. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 - 39 inches apart
  • Harvest in approximately 11 weeks. Strawberries bruise easily when ripe, handle carefully. Pick with a small piece of stem attached..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Better in a bed on their own to allow good sun and air circulation
  • Avoid growing close to: If you are using rotation beds, avoid putting strawberries where you have grown tomatoes, potatoes, peppers or eggplant

Your comments and tips

20 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes - make sure it has established itself a bit first - a few leaves. That stops it taking from the older plant. Next year cut all the runners off before they establish - or start a new lot. After two crops of fruit plant new runners.
14 Feb 18, Darlington creek organic strawberries (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
This being our first year at growing strawberries in south west Victoria we are unsure how long the fruiting season will last for Any input would be great
16 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
You live bottom of Vic and I live mid Qld coast and both sub-tropical ?????. I understand there are early mid and late fruiting varieties. And even some that produce near all year. I would guess about 10-12 weeks.
13 Feb 18, Carole Ellis (Australia - temperate climate)
strawberries leafing profusely but not fruiting
14 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Check your fruiting time of the year. In Bundy Qld - they fruit in the winter and early spring. After fruiting has finished they send out runners which grow new crowns and grow new leaves. You maybe at this stage.
16 Sep 17, Colin Hofmeier (Australia - tropical climate)
Would the tropical weather here be conducive to growing strawberry's
24 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You could try. Try to have them ripening in winter - early spring. Could even try a 50% shade cloth over them.
11 Sep 17, Em (Australia - temperate climate)
Anyone with cambridge rival strawberry runners to sell? I live in sydney and can arrange payment and postage . Thanks.
15 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
www.diggers.com.au/shop/fruit/berries/strawberry-cambridge-rival-potted/pstcp/ If no web link above this - then google - Cambridge rival strawberries. Go to Diggers website. They have potted ones coming out on 22nd Sept 2017. $9/pot. Maybe phone them and see if you an buy runners.
17 Aug 17, Stephen Hughes (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted 12 seeds in a pot 17 weeks ago. One plant came up beautifully in 10 days, another came up 4 weeks later. This 2nd one is still tiny but has many leaves. Best sun I can get is 5-6 hrs about midday. Is the lack of sun the reason I have no flowers?
Showing 81 - 90 of 193 comments

Autumn is a good time to plant strawberry runners. Clean up any dead material from around each plant, cutting off any dead leaves or broken roots at the same time. plant them in rows or large tubs to which you have added old cow manure or compost if you can. Many people used to put down plastic and plant them in slits in the plastic. This was to reduce weeds, conserve water and keep the fruit clean. The downside, very hot soil in the summer which kills soil life and difficulty in watering. Ideally use a natural mulch such as pine needles, sugar cane mulch or straw. you can also use autumn leaves. Spread the leaves over the lawn and run the mower over them. This will give you a blend of grass and chopped up leaves which will be free and make a good mulch.

- Jack

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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