Growing Strawberries Organically

Growing Strawberries Organically 🍓

Strawberries are one of my favourite fruits to grow at home. They don't need a huge amount of space, they're happy in raised beds and containers, and once you get them established, they can reward you with delicious little berries year after year.

And let's be honest, there is something very special about eating a strawberry you've just picked from your own garden. Even better, strawberries are a great fruit for beginner gardeners.

You don't need acres of land or a fancy fruit garden. A few plants in a raised bed, pot or container can give you a lovely harvest.

Here in the Organic Yarden, we grow our food without synthetic pesticides and herbicides, working with nature rather than trying to control every little thing that happens in the garden. So let's get those strawberry plants growing.

 Why Grow Strawberries?

There are plenty of reasons to grow your own strawberries.

They're:

• Easy to grow

• Perfect for small gardens

• Happy in containers and pots

• Great for raised beds

• Perennial, so plants can produce fruit for several years

• Easy to propagate from runners

• Brilliant for children to grow

• Delicious straight from the garden!

And homegrown strawberries really are different.

They can be picked when they're properly ripe rather than having to survive a journey from a commercial farm to a supermarket shelf.

 Where Should I Grow Strawberries?

Strawberries love sunshine, so choose the sunniest spot you have available.

Ideally, they need:

• Plenty of sunlight

• Good drainage

• Fertile, moisture-retentive soil

• Protection from strong winds

• Good air circulation around the plants

They can be grown in:

• Raised beds

• Vegetable beds

• Borders

• Pots

• Hanging baskets

• Strawberry planters

• Containers

This makes them particularly useful if you're growing in a small garden, courtyard, balcony or other limited space.

 How Much Sun Do Strawberries Need?

For the best harvest, give strawberries as much sunlight as you can. Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day where possible. A sunny position will help your plants produce flowers and, eventually, those lovely juicy strawberries.

If your growing space is limited, don't worry. One of the great things about strawberries is that you can move containers around to make the most of the sunshine.

 What Soil Do Strawberries Like?

Strawberries prefer fertile, well-drained soil that holds moisture without becoming waterlogged.

Before planting, add plenty of good-quality organic matter such as:

• Homemade compost

• Well-rotted organic matter

• Leaf mould

Avoid planting strawberries into permanently wet soil.

Strawberry roots don't appreciate sitting in water, and poor drainage can lead to problems with the roots and fruit.

When Should I Plant Strawberries?

Strawberries can be planted at different times depending on the type of plant you buy.

Bare-root plants are generally planted during the dormant season, while potted strawberry plants can be planted during the growing season provided they are kept well watered while establishing.

Autumn is often an excellent time to plant strawberries because the plants have time to establish their roots before producing heavily the following year.

Always check the planting instructions supplied with your particular variety.

 How Far Apart Should I Plant Strawberries?

Give your strawberry plants around:

30–35cm (12–14 inches) apart. If planting in rows, allow roughly 45–60cm (18–24 inches) between rows. This gives each plant enough room to grow while allowing good airflow around the leaves. Don't be tempted to cram loads of plants into a small space.

They might look lovely and full when first planted, but strawberries spread and produce runners, so that little strawberry patch can become surprisingly enthusiastic.

 How to Plant Strawberries

When planting strawberries, there is one very important thing to remember: Don't bury the crown. The crown is the central part of the plant where the leaves emerge.

It should sit approximately level with the soil surface. If you plant too deeply, the crown can rot. If you plant too high, the roots can dry out.

Dig a hole large enough for the roots, position the plant correctly and gently firm the soil around it. Then give it a good drink of water.

Watering Strawberries

Strawberries need consistent moisture, particularly when they're:

• Establishing

• Flowering

• Producing fruit

• Growing in containers

Try to water the soil rather than soaking the leaves.

Containers can dry out much more quickly than garden beds, especially during warm weather, so check them regularly. The aim is moist but not waterlogged soil.

Feeding Strawberries Organically

Strawberries don't need to be drowned in fertiliser. Before planting, improve the soil with good homemade compost or other suitable organic matter.

During the growing season, an appropriate organic feed can help support flowering and fruit production.

Mulching around plants can also help retain moisture and keep the developing fruit away from wet soil.

Mulching Strawberries

Mulching is one of my favourite little strawberry tricks. A layer of suitable organic mulch can:

• Help retain moisture

• Suppress weeds

• Keep fruit cleaner

• Reduce soil splashing onto the fruit

• Help protect the soil

Traditional strawberry growers often use straw around plants — which is where strawberries get their name in English.

Just make sure whatever mulch you use is suitable for organic growing and isn't contaminated with unwanted chemicals or weed seeds.

From Flower to Strawberry

Those little white or pink strawberry flowers are the beginning of your harvest.

Once pollinated, the flower develops into the fruit we know and love.Bees and other pollinating insects are important here, so growing strawberries alongside a garden full of flowers and other pollinator-friendly plants is a lovely way to encourage biodiversity. A garden doesn't have to be perfectly tidy to be productive.

Sometimes a few flowers, weeds and insects are doing far more work than we realise.

 Protecting Your Strawberries

Unfortunately, we're not the only ones who think strawberries are delicious! Birds can be particularly fond of them. If you find your strawberries disappearing just as they're beginning to ripen, some form of bird protection may be needed.Use appropriate netting or other physical protection, making sure it is safely installed so wildlife cannot become trapped.

 Slugs & Snails

Slugs and snails can also enjoy strawberries, particularly fruit lying close to the soil.

Good garden hygiene, removing hiding places around plants and encouraging natural predators can all help. Rather than automatically reaching for slug pellets, look at what you can change in your growing environment first.Organic gardening isn't about having a garden completely free of insects. Try my Cucumber Method 

It's about creating a garden where nature has a chance to find its own balance.

 Strawberry Runners

One of the best things about growing strawberries is that they can quite happily make more strawberry plants for you!

Strawberries produce runners, which are long stems that grow out from the parent plant. Where the runner touches the soil, it can develop roots and form a new plant.This gives you an easy way to propagate strawberries without buying new plants every year. If you want more strawberry plants, allow healthy runners to root. If you want your existing plants to put more energy into producing fruit, remove unwanted runners. Free plants?Yes please!

 Caring for Strawberry Plants After Harvest

Once you've finished harvesting, don't simply forget about your plants.Remove old, damaged or unhealthy leaves and keep the plants watered if conditions are dry. Continue looking after healthy plants so they can build up energy for the following season.

This is also a good time to deal with runners if you want to propagate new plants.

Growing Strawberries Through the Seasons

Spring

• New leaves begin to grow

• Feed established plants if needed

• Keep an eye out for flowers

• Protect early flowers from unexpected cold weather

Summer

• Strawberries ripen

• Water regularly

• Harvest ripe fruit frequently

• Protect fruit from birds and slugs

• Remove damaged fruit

Autumn

• Plant new strawberries

• Allow selected runners to establish

• Remove unhealthy growth

• Continue watering newly planted strawberries

Winter

• Strawberries are generally hardy and don't need lots of attention during winter.

• Keep containers from becoming waterlogged and make sure plants remain healthy going into spring.

 When Are Strawberries Ready to Harvest?

Pick strawberries when they are fully coloured and ripe. Unlike some fruit, strawberries don't continue ripening properly once picked, so it's worth leaving them on the plant until they're ready. Pick them carefully, ideally with a little of the stem attached.

And then comes the best bit...Eat them!

Preferably while standing in the garden because somehow they always taste better that way. 

Can I Grow Strawberries in Pots?

Absolutely! Strawberries are fantastic container plants. Choose a container with good drainage and use a good-quality growing medium. Remember that containers dry out more quickly than garden soil, so they need checking regularly.

They're also perfect for strawberry planters and hanging baskets, making them a great option when space is limited.

 Common Strawberry Growing Problems

My strawberry plants have lots of leaves but no fruit

There can be several reasons for poor fruiting, including the variety you're growing, insufficient sunlight, poor pollination or plants putting their energy into runners.

My strawberries are going mouldy

Wet weather, poor airflow and fruit sitting against damp soil can all contribute to mould and rot. Remove affected fruit and improve airflow around plants.

Something is eating my strawberries!

Check for birds, slugs, snails and other garden visitors. Sometimes the evidence is more obvious than the culprit!

My strawberry leaves are turning brown

Check watering, soil conditions and the overall health of the plant. Brown leaves can have several causes, so look at the whole plant rather than assuming it is one particular problem.

Growing Strawberries Organically

For me, organic gardening isn't about creating a garden where nothing ever eats a leaf. It's about creating a healthy growing space where plants, soil, insects, birds and other wildlife can all have a place.

Healthy soil, good compost, sensible watering, physical protection and encouraging beneficial wildlife can go a surprisingly long way.

And when you finally pick that first perfectly ripe strawberry...you'll know it was worth it. 🍓🌱

Great Recipes for your Strawberry Crop from out Vegan Kitchen