Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa)
Also known as: Garden strawberry, Cultivated strawberry · 21 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant out
- Early September to late October
- Ready in
- 180–270 days
- Site
- 8+ hours of sun, soil pH 5.8–6.5
- Biggest risk
- Grey mould
In the UK, strawberries planted out early September to late October, and are ready to harvest 180–270 days after sowing.
Strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) — Herbaceous perennial.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional planting out windows, ranging from late August in Northern England to early September in Midlands.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Plant out |
|---|---|
| Southern England | early September to late October |
| Midlands derived | early September to late October |
| Northern England derived | late August to mid October |
| Scotland derived | late August to late September |
Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.
Southern England - detail & sources
RHS: plant in late summer or early autumn for a full crop the following June, the recommended UK method. Southern England has the mildest autumn and latest first frosts in the UK (Met Office), so the autumn planting window runs latest here, into late October. Potted plants can alternatively be planted in spring (March to April) for a lighter first-year crop.
Midlands - detail & sources
DERIVED: interpolated from the RHS late-summer to early-autumn planting window, brought a little earlier than southern England so plants establish before colder Midlands winters (Met Office south-to-north gradient). Spring planting (late March to April) is the alternative for a lighter first-year crop.
Northern England - detail & sources
DERIVED: interpolated earlier than the Midlands; plant autumn stock from late August so plants root before harder northern winters (Met Office notes earlier first frosts further north). Spring planting shifts to April here. Based on the RHS late-summer to early-autumn window.
Scotland - detail & sources
DERIVED: Scotland has the shortest, earliest-closing autumn planting window in the UK (late August to September) so plants establish before winter (Met Office). Spring planting from April is the main alternative. Based on the RHS late-summer to early-autumn planting method.
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 5.8 - 6.5 |
| Sunlight | 8-8 hours direct sun |
| Optimal growing temp | 11-24C |
| Minimum survivable temp | -20C |
| Time to harvest | 180-270 days |
| Soil texture | loam |
| Drainage | moist but well-drained |
| Lifecycle | Herbaceous perennial (RHS). Time to maturity 1-2 years (RHS). Distinct from tomato's dispute: no annual/perennial ambiguity here, both RHS and GBIF/WFO/POWO treat this cleanly as a perennial. |
| Edible parts | fruit |
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment | 0 | Grow from runners (bare-root or cold-stored) or pot-grown plants rather than from seed. Plant with the base of the crown resting right at the soil surface: bury the crown and it rots, set it too high and the roots dry out (RHS). Space plants about 35-40cm (14-16in) apart in rows about 75cm (30in) apart, or about 20cm apart in containers (RHS); matted-row systems set plants wider and let runners fill in (Ohio State). Choose a sunny, sheltered site with fertile, moist but free-draining soil enriched with well-rotted compost, and avoid ground where strawberries, potatoes or tomatoes grew recently because they share verticillium wilt. Planting in late summer or early autumn (Aug-Oct) establishes plants before winter for a full crop the following June; spring planting gives a lighter first-year crop. Water in well and keep moist while establishing (time to a first full crop is about 1-2 years). |
| Vegetative Growth | 1 | Plants form a low rosette of trifoliate leaves and send out runners (stolons) that root into new plantlets. Remove unwanted runners through the season to prevent overcrowding and keep energy in the parent plant; peg down a few healthy runners in late summer if you want new plants for next year (RHS). Water regularly in dry spells, watering in the morning and keeping water off the crown, and keep beds weed-free. On spring-planted strawberries, pinch off the first flush of flowers in the first year so the plant builds strong roots and leaves before cropping (Ohio State first-year blossom removal). |
| Flowering | 6 | White (sometimes pink-flushed) flowers open in spring, typically April to May, and are pollinated by bees and other insects; good pollination gives well-shaped berries (RHS). Flower buds and open flowers are frost-sensitive, so cover plants with horticultural fleece overnight when spring frost is forecast and remove it by day so pollinators can reach the flowers (RHS; Met Office notes late frosts remain a UK risk into spring). As the first flower buds form, switch from a balanced feed to a high-potassium (tomato-type) feed to support fruiting rather than leafy growth. |
| Fruit Development | 7 | Fertilised flowers swell into green berries that enlarge and begin to colour. Tuck a layer of straw (the origin of the name strawberry) or strawberry mats under the developing fruit once berries form, to keep them off damp soil and reduce grey mould and slug damage (RHS). Water consistently while fruit is swelling because irregular watering causes small, misshapen or split fruit, but avoid wetting the ripening berries. Net plants or use a fruit cage as berries start to colour, since birds are the single biggest threat to a UK strawberry crop (RHS). |
| Ripening / Harvest | 8 | Pick berries when they are bright red all over, ideally during the warmest part of the day when flavour is best, checking plants every 2-3 days at the peak (RHS). June-bearing types crop heavily over about 2-3 weeks from late May or June; everbearing and day-neutral types crop in smaller flushes from summer into autumn (Ohio State; OSU Extension). Strawberries are highly perishable, so eat or refrigerate them promptly and freeze or make jam with any surplus. |
| Senescence / Dormancy | 9 | After the main summer harvest, renovate the bed: cut old foliage back to about 10cm, remove the straw mulch and any diseased leaves, and give a light feed to drive strong new growth for next year (RHS). Take the straw off in autumn so it does not harbour fungal diseases, slugs and snails over winter (RHS). Strawberries are hardy (RHS H6, about -20 to -15C) and go dormant over winter, but yield declines after about three to four fruiting years, so start a fresh bed in a different spot using runners from your healthiest plants (RHS; Ohio State). |
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
Nutrient Issues
Companion Planting
Pollination
Pollinating insects (bees and other flower visitors)
RHS "Plants for pollinators" tag; "The flowers attract pollinating insects" (RHS profile page). Specific pollinator species not named by the source.
Strawberries, Planting to Harvest
References
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Peer-reviewed; abstract fetched directly by research subagent from University of Sussex repository. Researcher-led trial + UK-wide citizen-science replication.
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Qualitative only: southern/coastal last air frost often before end of April; further north well into May, in a few places into June. No numeric per-region frost dates published here.
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Published 2014-04-10.
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Contains quantitative soil/tissue sufficiency tables.
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Checked directly for companion-planting mentions (none found).
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General cross-plant guide, strawberry named explicitly under Boron.
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Based on RHS Advisory Service case records since 1996.
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2016-2018 field trials.
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US extension source: dormant bare-root plants are transplanted in early spring and, being dormant, need no wait for spring frost risk to pass; cover only the roots and the base of the crown, leaving as much crown above ground as possible; matted row 18-24 in in the row with rows 3-4 ft apart, annual hill 12-15 in staggered; June-bearers crop in the spring of the second growing season; blossoms are susceptible to late spring frost and should be covered on cold nights; irrigate every 3-5 days in summer heat; renovate immediately after harvest.
21 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant strawberries out in the UK?
In Northern England, from late August. In Midlands, wait until early September. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to plant out only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
How long do strawberries take to grow?
Typically 180–270 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.
What soil pH do strawberries need?
A pH of about 5.8–6.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect strawberries?
Our data links 4 diseases and 5 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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Where To Go From Here
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