Plant strawberries now for best results
Strawberries are not only a delight to eat, they’re easy to grow says Gareth Carter
STRAWBERRY PLANTS can be planted for much of the year; however, the best results by far are from those planted into the garden during May.
Strawberries would have to be the most popular berry fruit grown. They will fit into any size garden, grow well in pots, are quick to give results, and some varieties do well in Whanganui.
Varieties fall into two main categories — short day and day neutral — the biggest difference being that the fruiting peak falls at a different time. So, if you plant a mixture, you will be harvesting fruit for a longer period.
I have been harvesting fruit from both types of plants from October to my last bowlful only two weeks ago in late April.
Short-day varieties initiate flowering when, as the name suggests, the days are short, and they will mostly fruit from early November to just after Christmas. Sometimes, flowering is also initiated in autumn and a small crop might be produced. Camerosa is a short day variety that produces large, wellflavoured fruit right around Christmas. Another real winner is Ventana.
Day-neutral varieties such as Aromas, Albion and Cabrillo fruit when the temperatures are warm enough for growth. These varieties tend not to have such a large flush of fruit at once but produce consistently for a longer period.
The most economical way to buy strawberry plants is as bare root bundles, some of which are available for a very limited time.
Planting done in the cooler months tends to result in heavier cropping than
Planting strawberry plants is ironically a great way to attract birds into the garden. So to enjoy the fruits of your labour, bird control is essential and it those made in warmer months. If they structure and add nutrients, and bulking seems this is the area where many are planted closer to the longest day up the soil can give height that will aid people come unstuck.
(December), they will tend to produce in good drainage. The most effective method is to an abundance of runners instead of fruit. construct a frame on which bird netting
may be draped. The frame needs to be Mulching the soil surface between able to hold the netting at least 30cm There seems little limit to how and where plants will prevent weeds, maintain an above the plants so when birds sit on
● these fairly foolproof plants can be even soil temperature and prevent the cloth they are not able to reach grown. They can be grown in old car moisture loss in summer. A those precious berries. It also needs to tyres where the heat of the tyres hastens mulch will also help to keep be secured around the base to ripening. This method keeps the fruit off the fruit clean. Suitable prevent side entry — the use of the ground and therefore clean from mulches include bricks or similar to weight soil. They can be grown in hydroponics, straw, sawdust, pine netting to the ground is in glazed or terracotta pots, specialist needles, pine bark effective. herb/strawberry planters. They are an or wood shavings. Frame options can edible option to grow in a hanging The traditional range from bending No 8 basket or they can fit in the herb garden. and very effective wire or steel into hoops to Some grow them along the edge of a method of making a ‘square’ frame vegetable garden and others will growing with garden stakes or even dedicate a spot to mass produce their strawberries is to putting an upturned pot on favourite berry. cover the raised the top of a stake which
Many will grow strawberries in pots mound with black keeps the netting held up and containers of various forms. If you polythene plastic or away from the plants. are planting strawberries in pots make weed mat, making a small How many to plant? A rule of sure you use a specialist mix such as slit for each plant. The black thumb is to plant five plants for each
Tui Strawberry Mix. mulch attracts heat, increasing soil family member. If you want to eat
The biggest factor is site selection. temperature making fruiting earlier and bowlfuls every night during summer The plants need a sunny position and the fruit clean from dirt. then plant more. a well-drained soil that has good structure. The addition of Tui Strawberry
Mix or Tui Sheep Pellets will improve soil Strawberry plants will produce
Where to grow Mulching and feeding Cultural notes
significantly more fruit if they are watered and fertilised regularly. You can buy a specially blended fertiliser.
While they like to be well drained, plants need to be watered in summer, preferably in the early morning to reduce the risk of humidity build-up.
The plants will produce good crops for three years after which the ‘mother’ plants are best thrown out. The plants will generally produce runners in late summer. In the first year, these are best removed as they will drain the plant of energy and reduce the next season’s fruit. However, in the second and third season, saving some runners and replanting will allow you to replenish or enlarge your patch.
For plants starting their second or third season, all the dead leaves should be removed during winter. This helps minimise pests and disease. Plants should then be fertilised in August or early September.
Strawberries are relatively pest-free; just keep an eye out for slugs in spring and aphids and mites in summer, which may require control using bee-friendly Yates Mavrik.
Bird control
Strawberry plants will produce significantly more fruit if they are watered and fertilised regularly.