Garden Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
A perennial classic — one plant becomes many with almost no effort.
Sun
Full sun (6+ hrs)
Water
2.5 cm / week
Soil
Rich, slightly acidic, pH 5.5–6.8
Spacing
30 cm apart
Days to harvest
First fruit 4–6 weeks after flowering
Hardiness
Zones 3–10
Seasonal Calendar
The method
- 1
Plant crowns
Set crowns level with soil — burying them causes rot, exposing them dries the roots.
- 2
Mulch with straw
A thick straw mulch keeps fruit clean, retains moisture, and suppresses weeds.
- 3
Pinch first-year flowers
Removing flowers in year one channels energy into strong plants and bigger year-two yields.
- 4
Manage runners
Snip runners to keep the plant focused, or peg them down to propagate new plants.
- 5
Harvest
Pick fully red berries in the morning. Snap the stem — never tug the fruit.
Common problems
Grey mold
Improve airflow and mulch to keep fruit off soil. Remove infected berries immediately.
Slug damage
Hand-pick at night; try beer traps or copper barriers.
Good neighbors
Field tips
- “Renovate the bed each autumn: thin plants and refresh mulch.”
- “Replace plants every 3–4 years — yields drop sharply after that.”