How to grow Strawberry in Australia
Plant in full sun in rich, well drained soil, setting crowns at soil level so they neither rot nor dry out. Water steadily, keeping leaves and fruit off wet ground with straw mulch.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 5 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 30 cm
- Time to harvest: 90 days
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.8
- Frost tolerance: Half hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to May | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to June | Cooler winters mean a longer establishment window. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to June | Plant runners Mar to Jun. Cooler winters than SEQ give a longer establishment window and a spring crop. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to May | Plant runners/crowns Mar to May for autumn/winter cropping. Cool season suits. Frost-tolerant perennial. |
| Adelaide & SA | June to August | Plant bare-rooted runners Jun to Aug in Adelaide; potted plants any time in the cooler months. Mulch well and shade fruit in heatwaves. |
| Perth & WA | April to July | Plant runners Apr to Jul for spring fruit; potted plants can go in through the cool months. Mulch well and shade the fruit in heatwaves. |
| Tasmania | April and May, September and October | Plant runners Apr to May or Sep to Oct. Cool ripening grows the sweetest strawberries in the country. |
| Canberra & ACT | March to May | Strawberry plant autumn (Mar to May) or early spring; Canberra's cold winters are ideal; harvest Oct to Jan; perennial but replant every 2 to 3 years. |
| North Queensland | April and May | Grown as a dry season annual in NQ. Plant runners Apr to May, pick May to Aug, pull plants before the wet. No chill needed for annual cropping. |
| Darwin & Top End | April and May | Plant runners Apr to May as a dry season annual. Fruiting needs no winter chill. |
Varieties
- Kabarla
- Festival
- Red Gauntlet
- Albion
- Alpine (Fragaria vesca)
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
- Brassicas
- Fennel
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Ripe when fully red right to the shoulders and fragrant. Pinch the stem above the berry rather than tugging the fruit; plants keep cropping over a long flush.
Storage
Fridge unwashed in a single layer, up to 3 days. Freeze whole or sliced.