The Complete Guide to Growing Strawberries: From Seed to Sweet Harvest 🍓🌱

Strawberries are a beloved fruit, cherished for their sweet, juicy flavour and vibrant red hue. Growing your own strawberries can be a rewarding experience, providing fresh fruit that tastes far superior to store-bought varieties. This guide will take you through the entire process of cultivating strawberries, from sowing seeds to harvesting and preserving your crop.

Sowing Outdoors

Starting strawberries from seed outdoors requires careful preparation, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

Soil Preparation: Begin by using sterile, disease-free, and weed-free soil to give your strawberry seedlings the best possible start. The soil should be kept moist at all times, but avoid waterlogging.
Sowing Depth and Environment: Sow the seeds 5 mm deep in seed trays or pots. Strawberries thrive in a humid environment with around 80% humidity, which is crucial for successful germination.
Garden Positioning: Select an open, sunny spot in your garden, or choose to grow your strawberries in pots, tubs, or hanging baskets for added convenience.
Seedling Emergence: Expect seedlings to emerge within 14-21 days, depending on the conditions.

Transplanting in the Garden

Once your strawberry seedlings are large enough to handle, it's time to transplant them into your garden.

Soil and Site Selection: Choose a location with loose, well-drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. Strawberries can also be planted in containers, pyramid gardens, or used as an edging for flower and shrub borders.
Spacing and Planting: When planting in rows, space strawberry plants 55 cm apart in rows that are 1.5 metres apart. This spacing allows the runners to form new plants, eventually creating a solid bed.
Root Preparation: Before planting, soak the roots in lukewarm water for two hours. Trim the roots to 7 cm long and remove any blossoms or dead leaves.
Planting Technique: Use a spade to dig a hole large enough to spread the roots out without bunching. Set the plants in the hole so that the crown is level with the surrounding soil. Firmly press the soil against the roots to ensure good contact.
Watering: Water frequently after planting until the plants are growing vigorously.

Growing Tips

Strawberries require consistent care throughout the growing season to ensure a bountiful harvest.

Mulching: Apply a light mulch around the plants to suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and keep the fruit clean.
Post-Harvest Care: After harvesting, remove old foliage carefully to avoid damaging the crowns.
Fertilisation: Fertilise the beds in early summer and again in September with a balanced fertiliser. Avoid fertilising when the plants are flowering, as this can affect fruit production.
Watering: Regular watering is crucial, especially in early summer and September, to support the plants’ growth and fruiting.
Winter Protection: In most northern regions, providing winter protection for strawberry plants is essential to ensure their survival through the colder months.

Harvest and Preservation

Harvesting strawberries at the right time is key to enjoying their full flavour.

When to Harvest: Pick the fruit as it ripens, when it is fully red. Morning is the best time for harvesting, as the berries will be cool and firm.
Harvesting Technique: Pick the berries with a short piece of stalk attached to extend their freshness.
Regular Picking: To keep your plants fruiting, harvest regularly. This practice encourages the plants to produce more fruit over the season.
Storage: Strawberries are best eaten fresh off the plant, but they can be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator if kept dry. They also freeze well and can be made into preserves for longer storage.