Strawberry Plant Care: Planting, Feeding & Post-Harvest Care

Home-grown strawberries are in a different league from anything you’ll find in a shop. Get a few key things right and you’ll be picking sweet, sun-warmed berries from your own garden before you know it.

This guide covers everything: what to do when your plants arrive, planting, ongoing strawberry care through the season, when to feed, how to manage leaves and runners, what to do after fruiting, and how to grow strawberries in pots, tubs and growbags. Whether you’re growing your plants in a strawberry bed or a single pot on a patio, you’re in the right place.

Let’s get into it.

Strawberry runners are available in two forms, and it’s worth knowing the difference. Fresh-dug plants are lifted straight from the field in October and November and are ready to plant on arrival. Cold-stored plants are lifted in January and held in a dormant, frozen state until they’re despatched, typically from March onwards. Because they’ve been stored in sub zero temperatures , they come to life quickly once planted and can go in the ground any time from March through to July. They’ll crop in their first summer, though the earlier you plant, the longer they take, around 90 days from a March planting, speeding up the later in the season you go. You’ll sometimes hear them called 60-day strawberries for this reason.

Good strawberry plant care starts the moment your plants land on your doorstep. Get your strawberry plants in the ground (or into containers) ideally within 24 hours of receipt. Cold-stored plants are supplied in a dormant state, ready to burst into life once they’re planted and the weather is right. Once they have come out of the coldstore, they need to be planted quickly.

If you’ve taken delivery of cold-stored plants and can’t get them in straight away, they can be kept in the salad compartment of the fridge for a few days, wrapped in their packaging

If you’ve taken delivery of cold-stored plants and can’t get them in straight away, they can be kept in the salad compartment of the fridge for a few days, wrapped in their packaging

If you ordered fresh-dug plants and the weather isn’t playing ball when they arrive (say frozen ground or waterlogged soil), simply open the bundle, pop the plants into a planter or seed tray, and cover the roots with some moist potting compost until conditions improve.

A little ground preparation makes a real difference to how well your strawberry plants establish.

Choose a spot that gets plenty of sun and is sheltered from cold winds and late frosts. Strawberries thrive in a loamy, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. If your soil needs a boost, work in some well-rotted garden compost or manure before planting.

A fresh site is very important: strawberries and potatoes share some soil-borne pathogens, so rotating to a new spot every few years is essential and keeps your plants performing at their best.

Clear any perennial weeds thoroughly before you plant. Getting on top of them at this stage means less work through the season. Just before planting, apply a fertiliser that’s high in potash to give your plants a great start.

Space plants 30-40cm (12-16in) apart, with 75-90cm (30-36in) between rows. The most important thing to get right is the depth: the central crown should sit level with the soil surface. A correctly planted crown establishes quickly and gets straight to work. Firm the soil gently around each plant and water well.

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Once your strawberry plants are in the ground, a little consistent attention through the season is all they need. Watering, mulching, feeding, and keeping on top of runners and leaves: each one is straightforward, and together they will make a big difference to your crop.

Regular watering is especially important as the fruit swells and ripens. Consistent moisture at this stage means fuller, more flavourful berries. Water at the base of the plants rather than over the foliage where possible.

Once the fruit has set, apply a thick mulch of clean straw around your plants. It keeps the fruit clean and off the ground, and helps the soil hold on to moisture through dry spells. Strawberry mats work brilliantly for this too.

Strawberry plants produce runners: long stems that spread out and form new plants. Unless you’re deliberately propagating, cut these off as they appear. Trimming them keeps all that energy focused on producing fruit.

Too many leaves on strawberry plants can build up gradually, particularly if runners have been left to develop. Keeping growth tidy improves airflow, prevents disease and lets more light reach the fruit. It’s one of the easiest things you can do for a better harvest.

Container growing rewards a little extra attention. Here’s what makes the biggest difference:

• Water little and often. Young plants establish best with light, regular watering rather than heavy drenching.
• Avoid waterlogged compost in winter. Don’t let pots or growbags sit in standing water during the colder months.
• Feed as the fruits swell. A high-potash liquid fertiliser at this stage makes a real difference to size and flavour.
• Overwinter in a frost-free place. A cold greenhouse or garden shed works well. Keep the compost just barely moist.

Hanging baskets are worth considering too, and keep the fruit off the ground. Perpetual varieties look particularly great as they fruit on the runners, so give a tumbling appearance.

Strawberry Plant Leaves: What to Look For and What to Do

Keeping an eye on your strawberry plant leaves is one of the best ways to stay in tune with how your plants are doing. Healthy leaves should be a light green. If you spot yellowing or discolouration, a tidy-up and a feed will usually bring things back quickly.

If you notice too many leaves on your strawberry plants, a quick tidy is all it takes. A dense canopy shading the fruit is usually a sign that runners have been developing or that older foliage needs clearing after previous seasons.

Good strawberry care means staying on top of the foliage through the growing season. A little regular attention is part of what makes the whole thing enjoyable.

Knowing when to cut back the foliage on strawberry plants makes a real difference to how well they perform the following year. Knowing what to do with strawberry plants after fruiting is just as important. Done right, this stage sets the plants up for a strong season ahead.

Learning how to grow strawberries in pots opens up the crop to anyone with an outdoor space, however small. Container plants can crop just as well as those in open ground, provided they get the right care.

For best results, plant cold-stored strawberry plants into containers in spring or summer. Always use fresh, good-quality, coarse, multipurpose peat or coir based compost: it gives your plants the cleanest possible start. Do not incorporate any homemade compost or compost that contains composted green waste as it can be too rich and will most likely give disappointing results.

For larger pots and strawberry tubs, mix in roughly one-third sharp sand or vermiculite to improve drainage.

Fill the tub to just below the first level of holes with damp, firmed compost. Insert plants through the holes with the crown sitting at soil level and roots spread out over the compost. Work your way up the levels, then finish with a few plants in the top. Water in gently.

Container growing rewards a little extra attention. Here’s what makes the biggest difference:

• Water little and often. Young plants establish best with light, regular watering rather than heavy drenching.
• Avoid waterlogged compost in winter. Don’t let pots or growbags sit in standing water during the colder months.
• Feed as the fruits swell. A high-potash liquid fertiliser at this stage makes a real difference to size and flavour.
• Overwinter in a frost-free place. A cold greenhouse or garden shed works well. Keep the compost just barely moist.

Hanging baskets are worth considering too, and keep the fruit off the ground. Perpetual varieties look particularly great as they fruit on the runners, so give a tumbling appearance.

Keeping Your Strawberry Plants Healthy

Strawberries are easy to grow and with a few simple habits in place they’ll thrive for up to three years.

Good drainage is the foundation. Strawberry plants do best in well-drained soil, so if your ground holds water, a raised bed or ridge will make a real difference. Moving to a fresh site every few years also keeps the soil in good condition.

Good airflow through the plants matters too. Keeping on top of leaves and runners throughout the season is the most effective way to keep your plants in good health. If you do spot any signs of grey mould on the fruit or mildew on the plant, a tidy-up will usually sort things out quickly.

Strawberry plant care is one of the most rewarding commitments you can make in a kitchen garden. Once you’ve tasted a berry from your own plants, bought ones rarely come close.

It comes down to a few things done consistently well: good ground preparation, getting the crown depth right at planting, feeding at the right moments, and keeping on top of runners and foliage.

Whether you’re growing in a dedicated strawberry bed, on a strawberry tabletop or a pot on the patio, we have a variety to suit you. Browse our full range of strawberry plants today.