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

16 Apr 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I take 40m is 40 meters from the beach. I would suggest you see if you can find some composted grass clipping and a few dry dead leaves - even some seaweed. Go to Bunnings or nursery and buy a bag of composted manure. Mix these into your sand. Yes cut the leaves back on the plants - leave a couple of the small new leaves though. When you plant the crown make sure you don't cover it with soil. 6 plants isn't many, see if you can double or triple that. Plant in a raised row and then mulch around the plants. If intending to grow next year - start preparing your soil 2 months earlier by adding in manure, grass clippings, seaweed, tree leaves, house hold food scraps etc. Add these to your soil and wet and dig in each 2 weeks. You will build up your soil over a couple of years.
18 Apr 18, Mac (Australia - temperate climate)
G'day Mike, I completely agree with all before me with this little addition. When you go to Bunnings (we have brand new location) buy a 150l R***n Compost Bin and a worm farm. All your grass clippings, food waste except onions and citrus and even shredded paper will make you a terrific planting medium for your next crop of Strawberries and just about every thing else. Cheers Arismac
23 Apr 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mac - I have a compost heap in my old duck pen to put all my leaves grass clippings garden waste etc during my growing season. During the summer (no cropping) I start two in my garden. When the garden ones are near compost I spread them out and dig into the soil and turn over a couple of times. Add a bit of lime, phosphate, trace elements and worm tea. The person I purchased the worms from told me to use the worm castings rather than the leachate (run the farm a bit dry- no leachate produced). I just take some of the worm castings etc from the farm and put it on some shade cloth over a 20L drum and hit it with the hose.. Also he told me onion and citrus are ok if done in small amounts. I just put my scraps in a blender (with water) and then strain for a day in shade cloth over a 20l drum.
09 Apr 18, Sarah Bateman (Australia - temperate climate)
Leaves and stem on Strawberry plant turning brown. New growth coming through healthy but then turning brown also. I’ve been trimming the dead/brown leaves off but have just read somewhere to leave them on for protection!? Soil is moist, although I do have it in a self watering pot, I do tip the excess water out. What am I doing wrong??
10 Apr 18, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Have a read up on the internet about growing them and brown leaves. To do with watering possibly. If you have new plants they should be good - older plants could produce some brown leaves. Only use the same plants for 2 yrs and then plant new runners.
08 Apr 18, David (Australia - temperate climate)
i have a small hothouse ( 3.0m x 2.0 m ) and am curious if i can grow both Tomatoes and Strawberries in the same hothouse, obviously not in the same pots but given the size of my hothouse in close proximity to each other ? Thanks in advance for any replies.
20 Apr 18, Carol (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
As long as they're not sharing the same soil they'll be fine
09 Apr 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It says don't grow after tomatoes. Nothing about at the same time.
02 Apr 18, Marg Herbertson (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I purchase 50 crowns for planting in Portland south west victoria
04 Apr 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look on the internet for people who grow/sell in your area. Or ask around for someone who is growing runners/crowns in your area. I have plenty at my local men's shed - don't know the variety. Don't know how they would travel from Qld to Vic either.
Showing 171 - 180 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

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