Growing Strawberry Plants

Fragaria : Rosaceae / the rose family

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

(Best months for growing Strawberry Plants in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Plant out (transplant) seedlings

September: Protect from frost

  • 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

23 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Continued about planting strawbs in sub tropical climate. Buy new stock and plant April/May. You can either plant runners from these next year and do that in future years, After about 6 years start with new stock again. Or leave the new plants in for two crops. Then plant new runners from these plants and do the same again. After doing this 3 times (six years) start with new stock again. Between the first and second crop with the same plants trim off all new runners. I will be putting my strawbs on weed mat next year. Also if you can put an irrigation system in the soil or under the mulch. If watering overhead do it in the morning (so the leaves and fruit dry out quickly) rather than late arvo.
02 Sep 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mike, thankyou for all your valued advice. I'm up for the challenge. Appreciated!!
18 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Love this article on strawberries. Thanks for it.
20 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Also when planting new runner plants - trim most of the leaves off - but leave a couple of the newer small leaves in the middle. And most important - where the leaves come out of the plant, is the crown of the plant, When planting DO NOT cover the crown with soil - have it sticking out of the soil a bit.
31 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mike thanks for yr strawberry posts. Appreciated. Will do.
20 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A run down on growing strawberries in sub tropical areas. You should start with fresh stock from nursery or online etc. Plant them early to mid April - some shops will sell plants anytime of the year.
03 Aug 18, Ken ODonnell (Australia - temperate climate)
Why do my strawberries go mouldy ? I have them in raised garden pots and on mulch. The 1st fruits didnt go mouldy . Thankyou,
18 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Ken, sorry to hear you're having mold problems with yr strawberries. I', not in your zone and although I am currently growing 4 strawberry plants that were a gift to me (I have them under a roughly-made 'cloche-shaped' wire because something trampled some of my vegies - possum or some such). They are looking healthy although I am fairly certain (not 100% and have not checked) that like tomatoes, they do not like to have their leaves wet (says me. who often wets them both). and that this causes all sorts of diseases, one of which may be mold (it would make sense)? I am a newbie gardener and learning as I go. But do check such things as watering (frequently/infrequently - can be a problem and cause diseases) feeding, etc. esp in this case things like strawberry diseases (Australia), etc. Also, try to buy old seed, heirlooms etc. A basil disease that has been in the USA for about ten years has now hit Australia. As far as I know it is in Qld and Northern NSW. One person admitted selling diseased basil seeds. I could be jumping the gun but I believe this would not happen with old varieties. Best *PS Can someone tell me whether or not I can plant out various and different seedlings, (instead of) where the Gardenate planting reminder mailout says 'sow seed? Thanks in advance.
06 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Google gray mold in strawberries.
29 Jul 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Mike, and all, Thanks for the drum on strawberries. All being well, I'll plant todaļy. Appreciated :)
Showing 141 - 150 of 347 comments

Hi, Looking for ideas on low chill stone fruit varieties with successful fruiting along the kzn Westville area. I am getting mixed information with some claims of high humidity being problematic. As a kid we had a green variety of peach that bore 100's if fruit but cant find the exact variety. Thanks Mohammed

- Anonymous

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put GardenGrow in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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. GardenGrow 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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.