Strawberries

Strawberry Fields

You just can’t beat the juicy mouth-watering flavour of these lollies from nature during summer!

Strawberries are easy to grow and versatile.

Plant them anywhere from the vege garden to flower beds, pots and hanging baskets.

Getting started

Strawberry plants produce the best in their first year and as a rule of thumb plant a few plants for every member in the family to make sure there is plenty to go around. We recommend planting new strawberries every year to get the best yield and avoid pests and diseases which older plants are prone to.

Winter is the best time to plant strawberries giving the plants time to establish and grow strong before fruit production begins in spring.

Variety recommendation

Camarosa is the best strawberry variety for the home garden bearing a huge yeild of large juicy fruit.

Location

Strawberries require an open sunny area where there is plenty of air circulation, but protection from strong winds. Strawberries can be grown almost anywhere as they do not require large amounts of space. You can grow them in your flower or vege garden, in pots and hanging baskets.

Planting

When planting the strawberry plants make sure the crown is above the soil and space them about 30cm apart. Traditionally strawberry plants were planted on a mound of soil which improves drainage and circulation. Strawberry plants do not like damp conditions as this can cause root disease. Adding compost or sheep pellets can improve the drainage in heavy soils.

After planting add a layer of compost around the plants. This helps to protect the roots and also helps to retain moisture and warmth in the soil. Straw or untreated wood shavings are also good to use and will keep the strawberries clean so they don’t rot. For hanging baskets and pots use Daltons Tub Mix. About four plants per hanging basket will be sufficient.

While the plants are establishing pick off the first flowers, as you want the plants to put all of their energy into growing before fruit production begins. In Early spring the plants should have grown enough so you can now leave the flowers on and wait for them to fruit. Also take off all the runners, as the runners will produce new plants, and you want your plant to now put all of its energy into strawberries.

Watering

Strawberries will need to be watered during dry periods but make sure to water the ground around the plant rather than on the plant to minimise the spread of any fungal diseases.

Fertilising

Strawberries growing in pots and baskets should be fertilised with Micacle-Gro which is a liquid fertiliser and should be applied every two weeks. Use Tui Strawberry Food for ground grown strawberries every month by sprinkling the fertiliser around the base of the plant and watering in.

Plant Protection

• Grey Mould is the main disease that harms these berries. A fungicide can be applied but the best way to deal with the problem is to remove the infected fruit.
• Strawberry plants are susceptible to the same pests and diseases as tomatoes and potatoes so avoid planting your planting these edibles together.
• Slugs and snail can be a problem for young fruit and new growth. To combat this, use slug bait, or create a rough surface on the ground with compost or mulch which the pests can not slide over.

Pesky Birds

While you are waiting for your strawberries to ripen you can be sure that they birds are too, so cover your patch with bird netting. Make sure the bird netting is held up above the plants. You can either use a specially crafted bird netting cloche or create your own structure. We have everything you need.

Harvesting

Pick and enjoy when ripe.