Position
Plant your strawberries in full sun. To accommodate their spread, place each plant about 30 centimetres apart. DO NOT bury the crown when planting. Plant to the same level as in the bag.
Size
Strawberries grow to about 30 centimetres and spread between 60 and 90 centimetres.
Soil Type
Strawberries enjoy well-draining, slightly acidic, loose soil. Sandy, loamy soils are ideal, while clay is not a good choice. This loose soil allows water to run through, feeding the plant without waterlogging the roots. Use soil with a pH of 5.3 to 6. Strawberry plants enjoy some acidity in the soil, so add a bag of acid compost before planting.
Adding half a bag of our Volcanic Rock Dust (R25 per bag) and a bag of Superfrass (R25 per bag) will assist in rapid growth.
Mulch
Use light mulch or organic matter around your plants to prevent water from evaporating from the soil. Pine Bark Mulch is especially important to protect your plants in the chilly winter months and maintain the soil’s acidity.
Watering
Keep the strawberry beds relatively moist, but be careful not to over-water them. Dry plants have a better chance of survival than waterlogged ones. So, even in hot, dry conditions, watering your thriving plant once a week should be more than enough. More regular watering may be required if your plant isn’t yet established.
Fertilising
Apply an all round fertiliser to the beds early in summer and in autumn. Don’t use a fertiliser if the plant is flowering.
Pruning
In the first year of the plant’s growth, you can pinch the flowers off to help the plant focus its resources on feeding a thick stem. Once your plant is established, it should only be pruned mid-winter. At any other time of year, you can remove dead or diseased leaves, especially from plants that aren’t thriving.
Harvesting
Pick your strawberries when they’re vibrant red all over. They should still be firm and are always best enjoyed freshly plucked from the plant. When picking a strawberry, try to keep a little piece of the stalk on it. Picking the fruit regularly will encourage the plant to keep producing fruit.
