Strawberries are a reliable and rewarding crop to grow at home. Sweet red fruits are produced on neat compact plants which grow happily in raised garden beds, in the garden, in pots or even hanging baskets. The foliage is attractive too, making strawberries a pretty choice to use as a border plant or along a pathway and they happily spill over low walls.


How to grow Strawberries in a garden

Strawberries can be grown from packaged crowns, small plants or seed. Packaged crowns are available in winter; because they usually possess a substantial root system, they’ll give the plants a head start. Small strawberry plants in mini pots are easier to find in the warmer months.

  1. Choose a sunny spot with well drained soil.
  2. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food .
  3. Plant crowns, small plants or sow seeds into well drained soil. 
  4. Water in well. Keep the soil moist until seeds germinate and/or plants are established. 
  5. Mulch around the base of crowns and small plants with organic mulch like woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the base of the plant. For seeds, mulch after plants have become more established.
  6. During the growing and flowering/fruiting season feed with Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Granular Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost apply Yates Thrive Strawberry & Berry Fruit Liquid Plant Food weekly.
  7. If transplanting, do so when plants are big enough to handle.


How to grow Strawberries in a pot

There are special strawberry pots that have a number of planting sections. If space is hard to come by, strawberries can be grown in pots or hanging baskets.

  1. Once you’ve chosen your pot or basket, make sure it’s in a sunny spot with protection from scorching heat.
  2. Fill pot with a high quality potting mix such as Yates Nature's Way Organic Citrus & Fruit Mix.
  3. Position the crown or small plant in a hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down.
  4. Water in well. Water deeply, at least once every 2-3 days to ensure the potting mix is moist - you may need to water more often in warmer conditions.
  5. During the growing and flowering/fruiting season feed with Yates Thrive Strawberry & Berry Fruit Liquid Plant Food. Throughout the year apply Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate.

Growing tips

  • Strawberries like mulch such as lucerne, pea or woodchip straw, which helps keep the soil moist and the berries clean and up off the soil where they might rot. 

  • There are some excellent modern strawberry varieties and it’s helpful to plant a few different types if you have the space. This will maximise pollination of the flowers, allow for fruiting at different times of the season and provide for a range of different subtle flavours.

More Plants

Olives

Olive trees make beautiful specimen trees, screening plants or as a feature in a pot. The pickled fruits are delicious and are used in various dishes.

Grapefruit

Red or yellow and sometimes even pink, grapefruit are a great addition to your garden and plate. An excellent source of vitamin C and super tasty too!

Grapes

Grapes are easy to grow, provided you have space and a support to grow on. Eat them either fresh, dried, or frozen and blended into an icy drink.

Pear

Pear trees are superb fruit-bearing feature trees (up to 6m). Dwarf forms (up to 2m) are also available which are great for small gardens and pots.

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