edenhana

Strawberry

A perennial that fruits best in its second year; a good rule of thumb is about five plants per household member.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
30cm
Harvest
Ready in 70-100 days
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
300-600g per plant over the season
Cost to grow
~$20 NZD
Grocery value
~$60 NZD
Companion plants
Lettuce, Spinach, Onion, Beans
Plants to avoid nearby
Brassicas, Fennel
Common diseases
Grey mould (botrytis), Powdery mildew
Common pests
Slugs and snails, Birds

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-April and July-September. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-April and August-September. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast and Christchurch / Canterbury: March and August-September. In Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: August-September.

Growing stages

  1. Planting & establishment

    • Best planted from runners or crowns in autumn or late winter to establish before fruiting
    • Slugs and snails can damage young crowns and leaves
    • Water in well while roots establish

  2. Flowering

    • Grey mould (botrytis) can affect flowers in damp, still conditions
    • On new first-year plants, removing early flowers helps the crown establish more strongly
    • Powdery mildew can begin appearing on leaves in humid weather

  3. Fruiting

    • Grey mould spreads quickly on ripening fruit in wet weather, especially fruit touching damp soil
    • Birds are drawn to fruit once it colours up, netting is often needed
    • Slugs and snails can damage fruit resting on the ground

  4. Harvest & runners70-100 days from planting; best from the second year

    • Fruits best in its second year, first-year yields are often light
    • Powdery mildew can persist on leaves after harvest in humid conditions
    • Runners can be pegged down to grow new plants for next season, or removed to focus energy on the main crown

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