Cool seasonFruitVegetative

Strawberry

Fragaria x ananassa

Strawberry is a cool-season fruit commonly established from crowns or transplants. It has a low, spreading habit, fits medium containers, and remains productive beyond one season when local winter conditions suit the planting.

Plant family Rosaceae · Also called garden strawberry

Strawberry
90–120 daysfrom planting to harvest
Planting timing

Establish crowns at the correct depth.

Strawberries are established vegetatively from crowns or transplants, so seed depth and germination days are not part of this profile. Outdoor planting ranges from about four weeks before to two weeks after the last spring frost.

The plants are hardy, but a crown should be positioned carefully: the root system belongs in the soil while the central crown remains near the surface. The broad frost-date window still needs to be adjusted for workable soil and local conditions.

4 weeks before to 2 weeks after last frostPlant outdoors

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

Crown or transplantSet planting material

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

Not listedEstablish roots

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

90–120 daysBegin harvest

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

Planting material: Crown or transplant. Life cycle: Perennial.
Space & containers

Allow room for crowns and runners.

Allow 30–45 cm between plants and about 60 cm between rows. The spreading habit means runners can extend beyond the original plant position, so the usable area may increase through the season.

For containers, provide at least 20 cm of depth and approximately ten litres of volume. Support is not required, but the container should leave fruit and runners accessible rather than compressed against neighbouring plants.

Core measurements

Between plants30–45 cm

Crop-level planning range.

Between rows90 cm

Crop-level planning range.

Container depth25+ cm

Crop-level planning range.

Container volume10+ L

Crop-level planning range.

Growth habitCreeping

Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.

SupportNone

Install support early when it is required or useful.

Growing conditions

Combine full sun with even moisture.

The profile lists eight hours of direct sun and describes full sun as preferred. Strong light supports flowering and fruit development, although temperature and variety also influence seasonal performance.

Weekly water is listed at 20–30 mm with a moderate need. Shallow containers can dry quickly, while dense foliage may hide whether the growing medium remains wet beneath the surface.

Sunlight

8+ hours

Full sun preferred (8+ direct-sun hours/day)

Soil pH

5.5–6.8

A suitable acidity range for general growth.

Weekly water

35–50 mm

High water need.

How to water

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during establishment and harvest development.

Growth & harvest

Expect timing to vary by plant type.

The 90–120 day harvest range begins at planting, not seed sowing. Strawberry is a perennial, so a single establishment date may support growth across more than one season.

First-year timing varies with planting material and cultivar type. Treat the crop-level range as a planning reference, then use mature colour and the known characteristics of the variety to assess fruit readiness.

GerminationNot listed

Read with the full crop profile.

Harvest basisPlanting

Read with the full crop profile.

Life cyclePerennial

Read with the full crop profile.

Frost toleranceHardy

Read with the full crop profile.

Key growing tip

Day-neutral plants may crop in the first season; June-bearing types often crop best the next year.

Strawberry growing questions

Are strawberries grown from seed in this profile?

No. The listed planting material is a crown or transplant, so germination days and seed depth are not used.

Can strawberries grow in containers?

Yes. Start with at least 20 cm of soil depth and approximately ten litres of growing medium per plant.

How far apart should strawberry plants be?

Allow around 30–45 cm between plants and about 60 cm between rows, with additional awareness of spreading runners.

Are strawberry plants annual or perennial?

Strawberries are perennial. Their 90–120 day harvest range is counted from planting, but the plants may remain for later seasons.

Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S4,S5. Local climate and variety can change actual results.

Explore another crop

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