🍓 Strawberry Planting Instructions

 

Strawberries are one of the easiest and most rewarding fruits to grow, producing delicious crops of sweet, juicy fruit. Ideal for gardens, raised beds, containers, and polytunnels, they are a great choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners.

 

🌱 Planting Position

Choose a sunny, sheltered site with fertile, well-drained soil. Strawberries thrive in full sun and will produce the best crops when given plenty of light. Avoid areas prone to waterlogging or heavy frost.

 

📏 Planting Distance

  • Plants: 30–45cm (12–18 inches) apart
  • Rows: 75–90cm (30–36 inches) apart

Allowing adequate spacing improves air circulation, reduces disease risk, and makes harvesting easier.

 

🌳 Planting

  1. Soak bare-root plants in water for 30 minutes before planting.
  2. Dig a hole large enough to spread the roots comfortably.
  3. Position the plant so the crown (where the leaves emerge) sits exactly at soil level.
  4. Firm the soil gently around the roots.
  5. Water thoroughly after planting.

 

💧 Watering

Keep plants well-watered during dry periods, especially while flowers and fruit are developing. Consistent moisture helps produce larger, sweeter berries.

 

🌿 Feeding & Care

Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring and keep the area weed-free. Mulching around the plants with straw or compost helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keeps fruit clean.

 

🍓 Harvesting

Strawberries are ready to harvest when fully coloured and fragrant. Pick regularly throughout the season to encourage continued fruit production.

 

🌟 Top Tip

Remove unwanted runners if you wish to maximise fruit production. For the best yields, replace plants every 3–4 years as older plants become less productive.

 

English’s Fruit Nursery Tip

 

Protect ripening fruit from birds with netting and enjoy the unbeatable taste of freshly picked strawberries straight from your own garden.