Strawberries
- Botanical Name
- Fragaria x ananassa
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Plant Type
- Evergreen perennial
- Size (HxW)
- 20-30cm x 20-30cm
- Depth & Spacing
- Plant with the crown just below soil surface with roots spread evenly below. Space 45cm apart in rows
- Soil
- Humus rich, well drained soil, slightly acidic to neutral. Improve soil conditions by adding plenty of organic compost and well rotted animal manure (not chicken it is a bit alkaline - they like an acid soil, PH 6-6.5). Use a well balanced fruit and vegetable fertiliser.
- Aspect
- Full sun in cooler climates. Plant in a semi shade position in warmer climates.
- Climate
- Although strawberries perform best in cool climates, some varieties perform well in warmer climates. They can be grown pretty much anywhere as long as the micro climate and the cultivar is right.
- Frost
- The plants can be covered with hessian if you wish to protect the first flowers from frost damage otherwise the plant is frost hardy.
- Water
- Never allow the plant to dry out. If you’ve used plastic sheeting (see below), water slowly so the water penetrates through the holes. A trickle system is ideal.
- Fertiliser
- Apply a well balanced fruit and veg fertiliser in spring with the flowers.
- Fruiting Time
- Summer to autumn. Usually 4-6 weeks depending on varieties.
- Fruit Care
- Cut off any runners that are produced during summer to encourage more fruit production.
- Pests/Diseases
- Certified virus free stock (all Tesselaar strawberries are certified) is generally trouble free. However, if any sign of mildew occurs then spray with a fungicide (brew up a natural one from the internet or ask for one at your local nursery). You may also need to protect your fruit against birds, snails and other insects.
- Notes
- When planting you can cover mounds of soil with a black polythene sheet, which can be anchored by burying the sides into the soil. Cut small holes into the plastic and plant in these. The benefit of the plastic is to suppress weeds, reduce runners, keep the fruit clean and hasten ripening by keeping the soil warm.
It is best to avoid growing Strawberries where tomatoes or potatoes have been growing as are affected by the same diseases.