When to plant Strawberries in the UK

Fragaria × ananassa

Strawberry
Strawberry · Fragaria × ananassa

A hardy perennial fruit for most UK gardens. Plant in a sunny, sheltered spot with free-draining soil. A little light shade is fine. Keep it watered while the roots settle and the fruit swells.

25 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water

Add to garden
Plant out September to December, harvest June to July.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNo

UK averages · set your town for dates worked out from your local frost records · how dates are worked out

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Dates for your town

Set your town to see planting windows worked out from local frost history, not a generic UK calendar.

  1. 01

    Plant Runners

    early September to late December UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Plant bare-root runners during early September to late December in well-prepared, free-draining soil. Set each crown at soil level. Space apart. Water in well. They fruit next summer.

    • If the ground sits wet, wait until it drains.

  2. 02

    Water to Establish Roots

    early September to late March UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    From early September to late March, keep the soil evenly moist while roots establish. Water at the base in dry spells. Keep the crown clear of mulch.

  3. 03

    Mulch and Feed

    mid-April to mid-May UK average · set your town for your exact dates Optional · repeat every 365 days

    From mid-April, mulch around the plants with well-rotted compost or manure, leaving the crown clear. Do this once a year.

  4. 04

    Net Plants

    mid-June to mid-July UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Put netting over the plants from mid-June, before the fruits start to colour. Keep it taut and well clear of the foliage. Take it off after picking.

  5. 05

    Harvest Fruit

    mid-June to mid-July UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Pick when the berries are fully red, in the warm part of the day, from mid-June through mid-July. Summer-fruiting types crop then. Perpetual types can keep picking later.

    • Put straw under the fruit as they form.

  6. 06

    Remove Runners

    mid-July to early August UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    After harvest, from mid-July, cut old leaves on summer types. Lift or cut away most runners. Keep a few strong ones if you want to replace older plants.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Strawberry to consider

Mara des Bois

A fragrant, late-cropping type with a good dessert flavour.

Cambridge Favourite

A reliable early variety for open ground and containers.

Hapil

A strong-cropping mid-season variety with large, glossy fruit.

Florence

A late-season variety that crops well and usually holds fruit for longer.