Growing your own strawberries in the UK is both rewarding and surprisingly easy – with the right care. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
The UK’s temperate climate is ideal for strawberries, but some varieties perform better than others. With just a bit of attention, strawberry plants can reward you with sweet, homegrown fruit year after year, whether you’re growing them in a dedicated bed, a hanging basket, or a patio pot.
They can be one of the most satisfying fruits to grow in the UK, so get planting and prepare for a summer of delicious rewards!
The different types:
- June-bearing (Summer-fruiting): Produce a large, single crop over 2-3 weeks in early summer (e.g., ‘Cambridge Favourite’, ‘Honeoye’).
- Ever-bearing (Perpetual): Smaller harvests but over a longer period—from June through September (e.g., ‘Mara des Bois’).
- Alpine: Tiny, intensely flavoured berries, perfect for borders or containers (e.g., ‘Mignonette’).
Choose based on how often you want to harvest and how much space you have.
When and Where to Plant Strawberries
Best time to plant: Late summer to early autumn (August–September) for a harvest the following year, or early spring (March–April) for same-year fruiting with established plants.
Ideal location:
- Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hours a day).
- Soil: Well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of 5.5–6.8.
- Avoid: Frost pockets, waterlogged areas, or recently used beds for potatoes or tomatoes (to prevent disease).
Raised beds or containers work well if your garden soil isn’t ideal.
How to Plant Strawberry Plants
- Space plants 30cm apart in rows 75cm apart.
- Dig in compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
- Plant so the crown (where the leaves emerge) is just above soil level—too deep and the crown may rot; too shallow and the roots may dry out.
Tip: Mulch with straw or black plastic to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Caring for Your Strawberry Plants
Watering:
- Keep soil moist, especially when the fruit is forming.
- Avoid wetting the leaves to reduce fungal risk.
Feeding:
- Use a high-potash liquid fertiliser (like tomato feed) every couple of weeks from flowering until harvest.
Weeding and Mulching:
- Weed regularly.
- Straw mulch under fruit helps keep berries clean and deters slugs.
Pest control:
- Use netting to protect from birds.
- Slug traps or copper tape can help with slugs/snails.
Harvesting and Aftercare
Harvest: When berries are fully red, slightly soft, and fragrant. Pick every couple of days during the peak season.
After fruiting:
- Cut back old foliage in July for summer-fruiting varieties.
- Feed and water well to encourage strong root growth for next year.
Winter care:
- Protect from hard frosts with fleece or straw, especially if growing in pots.
Propagating Your Plants
Strawberries naturally produce runners—long stems with baby plants at the ends. You can peg these into small pots of compost to root, then transplant in autumn.
Replace your strawberry plants every 3–4 years to maintain good yields and avoid disease build-up.
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