Nothing says summer has arrived like strawberries. Covered in cream, made into jam or on top of your porridge, these delicious berries make a popular choice for your kitchen garden. Suitable for small spaces and beginners, here’s everything you need to know about growing tasty strawberries at home.
Types of Strawberries (Choosing the Right Variety)
It’s a good idea to choose a range of strawberry varieties, that way you’ll have a flush of fruit from late spring right through to early autumn.
Early fruiting strawberries (mid June - early July)
These varieties produce one large, early crop. They’re ideal if you want a big harvest for eating fresh, making jams, or freezing.
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Christine: Produces large, glossy red fruits with a sweet, juicy flavour. A reliable choice with good resistance to verticillium wilt and powdery mildew.
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Honeoye: Bright red, firm fruits with excellent flavour. A heavy cropper that freezes well and grows happily in containers, outdoors, or under cover.
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Mae: A very early variety with medium to large, sweet-tasting fruits. Known for heavy yields, though it has more limited disease resistance.
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Vibrant: Medium to large, glossy fruits with a rich, sweet flavour. Offers good resistance to crown rot and powdery mildew.
Mid-season strawberries (late June - mid July)
These varieties provide a reliable main crop and often offer a great balance between yield, flavour, and plant longevity.
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Alice: Produces attractive red-orange fruits with exceptional sweetness. A strong performer with excellent disease resistance.
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Cambridge Favourite: A classic, tried-and-tested variety. Medium-sized fruits, heavy cropping, and well-suited to container growing with good all-round disease resistance.
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Elsanta: Large, firm, bright red fruits with a sweet, juicy taste. Stores well, but requires a little extra care due to lower disease resistance.
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Red Gauntlet: A dependable variety with large fruits and heavy yields. Can sometimes produce a second, later crop and shows some resistance to grey mould.
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Totem: Firm red fruits with excellent flavour. A heavy cropper that freezes well and offers some resistance to red spider mite.
Late season strawberries
Late varieties extend your harvest into the summer months, often producing slightly smaller but intensely flavoured fruits.
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Fenella: Large, glossy fruits with a sweet taste and impressive yields. Offers good resistance to crown rot and wilt.
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Florence: A newer variety that can crop as late as August. Produces firm, bright red fruits with a sweet flavour and strong resistance to mildew, wilt, and vine weevil.
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Pandora: Large, orange-red fruits with a juicy texture and vigorous growth. Needs another variety nearby for pollination but offers good disease resistance.
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Pegasus: Large, glossy fruits that are sweet and juicy. A heavy cropper with good resistance to wilt and grey mould.
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Rhapsody: Medium to large, glossy red fruits with a sweet, juicy flavour and consistently high yields.
Where to grow strawberries
Strawberries are pretty versatile so depending on your growing space, you’ve got a few growing options. However, it’s best to give them as much space as you can as strawberry plants send out horizontal stems called runners during the growing season to produce more plants - this means free plants!
Growing strawberries in the ground
Planting strawberries directly in the ground is ideal if you’re aiming for larger harvests. With plenty of space to spread, plants can establish strong root systems and produce more fruit over time. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained, fertile soil, and give each plant enough room to grow to avoid overcrowding and disease.
Growing strawberries in raised beds
Raised beds are a great option for growing strawberries, offering improved drainage and better control over soil quality. They also make planting, maintenance and harvesting much easier, as you won’t need to bend down as much. The defined space helps keep plants organised and can reduce the risk of pests and soil-borne diseases.
Growing strawberries in containers & pots
Strawberries grow brilliantly in containers and pots, making them perfect for patios, balconies or smaller gardens. This method allows you to control soil conditions more easily and move plants to the sunniest spots. Growing in pots can also help reduce pest problems, particularly from slugs and snails!
Growing strawberries in hanging baskets
Hanging baskets are a fun way of growing strawberries and add a decorative touch to any outdoor space. Not only do they look great, but they also make harvesting quick and easy, with fruit hanging at an accessible height. Elevating the plants helps protect them from pests and keeps the fruit off the ground, reducing the risk of rot.
When is the best time to plant strawberries?
The best time to plant bare root strawberries is early spring between March and May.
How to plant strawberries
Where you plant strawberries will affect the harvest, so
1. Choose the right spot: Pick a sunny position that gets at least 6–8 hours of sunlight a day. Strawberries thrive in warmth and light, so the more sun they get, the better your fruit will be.
2. Prepare the soil: Strawberries prefer well-drained, fertile soil that’s slightly acidic. Before planting, dig in plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost to improve soil structure and add nutrients.
3. Space your plants: Plant strawberries around 30–45cm apart, leaving enough room for air circulation and future growth. This helps prevent overcrowding and reduces the risk of disease.
4. Plant at the correct depth: Position each plant so that the crown (where the leaves meet the roots) sits just at soil level. Avoid burying the crown, as this can cause rot, and don’t leave it too exposed either.
5. Firm the soil gently: Once planted, gently firm the soil around each plant to remove air pockets and help them settle in securely.
6. Water thoroughly: Give your plants a good soak straight after planting. This helps the roots establish quickly and reduces transplant shock.
7. Apply much: Mulch strawberries in late autumn to early winter while dormant to protect them in the cold weather.
How to harvest strawberries
Strawberries can continue to ripen after being picked but they won’t get any sweeter! The best time to pick strawberries is when they are fully red, firm and plump.
How to care and maintain strawberry plants
Strawberries are relatively low-maintenance, but a little regular care will make a big difference to the quality and quantity of your harvest.
1. Water regularly: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruiting. Avoid letting plants dry out, but be careful not to overwater, as soggy soil can lead to root rot.
2. Feed for better crops: Strawberries benefit from regular feeding during the growing season. Use a high potash feed (such as tomato feed) every 1–2 weeks once flowers appear to encourage healthy growth and plenty of fruit.
3. Mulch around plants: Add a layer of straw, bark, or mulch mats around your plants. This helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keeps fruit clean by preventing it from sitting directly on the soil.
4. Remove runners (or Use Them!): Strawberry plants produce runners (long stems that create new plants). If you want bigger fruits, remove these so the plant can focus its energy on producing fruit. Alternatively, you can use runners to propagate new plants.
5. Protect your crop: Birds and slugs love strawberries just as much as we do. Use netting to protect fruit from birds, and consider slug deterrents like barriers or organic pellets to minimise damage.
6. Keep plants tidy: Remove dead or damaged leaves regularly to improve airflow and reduce the risk of disease. This also helps keep your plants looking neat and healthy.
Strawberry FQAs
Can strawberries grow in shade?
Strawberries prefer full sun but they can tolerate partial shade. Keep in mind that shaded plants may produce fewer fruits and the berries might be smaller.
How long do strawberry plants last?
Most strawberry plants are productive for 2–3 years. After that, yields tend to decline, so it’s a good idea to replace older plants or propagate new ones from runners.
Do strawberries come back every year?
Yes! Strawberries are perennial plants, so with proper care they will return each year. Winter protection, mulching, and regular maintenance will help them stay healthy and productive season after season.
What are you waiting for? It's time to grow juicy strawberries in time for summer!