When to Plant Bare Root Strawberry Plants in the UK
If you’re planning a new strawberry bed for next summer, autumn is a great time to start thinking about getting your plants in the ground.
Bare root strawberry plants are a simple and economical way to establish a strawberry patch, whether you’re planting a few plants in the garden, filling a raised bed or putting in a much larger area.
But when is the best time to plant them?
When can you plant bare root strawberries?
In the UK, bare root strawberry plants are normally planted during the dormant season, from late autumn through to early spring.
At Mooreberries, our plants are field grown and lifted once they are ready during the colder months.
Planting during autumn and early winter gives the plants time to establish their roots before spring growth begins.
You can also plant later during winter and early spring, providing the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged.
Why plant strawberries in autumn?
There are several advantages to getting your strawberry plants in early.
Once planted, the roots can begin settling into the soil whenever conditions are mild. The plant may not look like it is doing very much above ground, but getting established before spring can give it a good head start.
When temperatures begin to rise, the plant is already in position and ready to put its energy into new leaves, flowers and eventually fruit.
It also means one less gardening job to squeeze into a busy spring.
How to plant bare root strawberry plants
Strawberries are straightforward to plant, but getting the depth right is important.
Choose a sunny position with reasonably fertile, free-draining soil.
Before planting, remove perennial weeds and prepare the ground so the soil is loose enough for the roots to spread naturally.
Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots without bending or bunching them upwards.
Position the plant so that the crown — where the roots meet the leaves — sits level with the soil surface.
Planting too deeply can bury the crown, while planting too shallowly can leave the roots exposed.
Firm the soil gently around the plant and water well after planting.
How far apart should strawberry plants be?
For most garden strawberry beds, spacing plants approximately 30–45cm apart gives them room to develop while still creating a productive strawberry bed.
Leave enough room between rows to pick the fruit and remove weeds comfortably.
Strawberry plants will naturally produce runners during the growing season. These can either be removed to concentrate the plant's energy or allowed to root if you want to expand your strawberry patch.
Which strawberry variety should you choose?
One of the easiest ways to extend your strawberry harvest is to grow more than one variety.
Rather than having all of your strawberries ripen at once, you can combine early, mid-season and late varieties.
For example:
Honeoye is an early-season strawberry and a good choice for getting the harvest started.
Cambridge Favourite is one of Britain's best-known traditional strawberry varieties and crops during the main season.
Florence is a later-season variety that can extend strawberry picking further into the summer.
Growing varieties from different cropping periods can give you strawberries over a much longer part of the season.
Our All Season Strawberry Collection combines five Honeoye, five Cambridge Favourite and five Florence plants, giving you 15 plants selected to provide a spread of fruit through the strawberry season.
Can I plant strawberries in pots?
Yes.
Strawberries grow very well in containers, raised beds and planters as well as directly in the garden.
Make sure the container has good drainage and use a good-quality compost. Containers tend to dry out faster than open ground, so they will need more regular watering during warm weather.
They are a particularly good option if you have a small garden or patio.
Preparing now for strawberries next summer
October is a great time to start planning next year's strawberry crop.
Prepare your planting area, clear weeds and decide which varieties you would like to grow. Then, when your bare root plants arrive, you can get them into the ground quickly.
At Mooreberries, our strawberry plants are grown here in the UK and supplied as field-grown bare root plants during the dormant season.
You can place your pre-order now and choose from our range of early, mid-season and late strawberry varieties.
