Strawberries - How To Grow / RHS Gardening

Strawberry plants need regular attention to ensure you get the best possible crop. Keep them free of weeds, water in prolonged dry spells and protect the ripening fruit.

Watering

Water new plants regularly while they are establishing, and water all strawberry plants during prolonged dry periods in the growing season. Plants in containers, especially hanging baskets, need regular watering, as the compost Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. can dry out quickly.When watering strawberries, try to avoid wetting the crown (centre) of the plant or the fruit, as this can lead to fungal problems, especially grey mould. It’s best to water in the mornings rather than the evenings, so if the plants or fruit do get splashed, they have plenty of time to dry out.

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Feeding

Strawberry plants growing in decent, regularly mulched soil are unlikely to need any additional feeding. However, if harvests are poor, apply a high potassium granular fertiliser in spring. If your plants are showing signs of nutrient deficiency, use our page on nutrient deficiencies to work out what is lacking and apply the recommended feed, following instructions on the packet.

Feed plants in containers or growing bags fortnightly during the growing season. Start with with a general purpose liquid feed, then switch to a high potassium liquid feed when the first flower buds A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers. form.

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Mulching

Mulching Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings. your strawberry bed in late winter or early spring with a layer of well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost, will improve your soil, help to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Mulch Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings. can cause rotting if it’s placed over the crown, so leave a slight gap around the base of your plants.

Strawberry beds can also be mulched with dry organic matter, such as straw, when they start to develop fruits. This will keep the fruit off damp ground, so they stay clean and dry and are less likely to rot. Wheat straw is fine, although barley straw is softer. Remove the layer of straw in autumn, as it can become an ideal environment for fungal diseases, slugs and snails when damp. Alternatively, place biodegradable Anything that can be decomposed by fungi, bacteria and micro-organisms, so it doesn’t persist indefinitely in the environment. Biodegradable plastics are usually made from plants, such as bamboo, rather than fossil fuels. Ideally, products that claim to be biodegradable should break down quickly and leave nothing harmful behind. However, they may need specific conditions in order to biodegrade successfully or may produce greenhouse gases such as methane in the process. mulch mats or re-usable strawberry collars around individual plants.

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Removing flowers

Depending on the type of strawberry and planting time, removing the first flush of flowers can aid establishment and enhance long-term cropping.

Summer-fruiting strawberries planted in autumn or spring – the first flush of flowers should only be removed if growth has been slow and plants look weak.Perpetual strawberries planted in spring – these will establish better if the first flush of flowers are removed. Those planted in late-summer or autumn should be sufficiently established, but if plant growth has been poor, remove the first flowers.Cold-stored runners planted in late spring to early summer – leave the flowers on. If given good growing conditions, these will produce strawberries about 60 days after planting, reverting to their natural cropping period the following year.

Protecting flowers and fruit

Frost – strawberry plants are hardy, but if frost is forecast while they’re in flower or have early fruits, cover the plants overnight with biodegradable fleece, hessian or an old bedsheet.Damp soil – unless your plants are growing through biodegradable Anything that can be decomposed by fungi, bacteria and micro-organisms, so it doesn’t persist indefinitely in the environment. Biodegradable plastics are usually made from plants, such as bamboo, rather than fossil fuels. Ideally, products that claim to be biodegradable should break down quickly and leave nothing harmful behind. However, they may need specific conditions in order to biodegrade successfully or may produce greenhouse gases such as methane in the process. membrane, protect developing berries from wet soil and potential rot by placing biodegradable plant mats or straw beneath the fruits as they begin to form (see Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings. above).Birds and squirrels – to prevent birds from eating your fruit, build a framework over the plants using bamboo canes or wood, and cover it with plastic-free or reused netting before the berries ripen. Ensure the netting is taut and fastened securely so birds and other wildlife don’t get entangled in it. You can also use chicken wire, which will deter squirrels. Remove the protection after harvesting to allow birds to feed on any pests. Alternatively, grow your plants inside a fruit cage.

Propagating

Strawberries can be propagated from runners (plantlets produced on long stems). Late summer is an ideal time to do this.

• Place 9cm (3½in) pots, filled with peat-free multi-purpose compost Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. , beside your strawberry plants and insert individual runners into them
• Peg them down with U-shaped pieces of wire, about 15cm (6in) long
• Aim to keep the compost slightly moist to promote root growth
• Sever the new young plants from the parent plant when rooted

Perpetual strawberries produce fewer runners than summer-fruiting strawberries, so new plants often have to be bought in. If alpine strawberries are left unharvested, they may self-seed.