Growing Strawberry in Australia: The Complete Guide
Strawberry is an easy berry to grow, needing full sun with regular, even watering.
Strawberry is one of the easy additions to a home garden, and this article walks through everything behind our one-page printable guide in a bit more depth.
Crown at soil level
Plant so the crown — where the leaves meet the roots — sits exactly at soil level. Too deep and it rots; too shallow and it dries out.
Getting Strawberry Into the Ground
Method — plant bare-root crowns or potted runners, crown at soil level. Soil — rich, well-drained, slightly acidic. Timing — plant in autumn for a spring crop, or spring for a smaller first-year harvest.
Keeping It Growing Well
Worth paying attention to:
- Mulch with straw to keep fruit clean and off damp soil.
- Remove runners unless propagating new plants.
- Water evenly — irregular watering causes small or misshapen fruit.
- Replace plants every 3 years as vigour declines.
Common Problems
Keep these points in mind:
- Grey mould (botrytis) — fruit rot in humid weather; improve airflow, mulch under fruit.
- Slugs and snails — target ripening fruit; use barriers.
- Birds — netting is close to essential.
- Small fruit — overcrowded runners; thin regularly.
When and How to Harvest
Signs — fully red, no white shoulders, comes away easily. Method — pinch the stem rather than pulling the fruit. Curing — none needed. Storage — fridge a few days; freezes well.
For the condensed, printable version of everything above, head to the main strawberry guide page.