Hortiforum

General Info – Strawberry

Sweet, juicy, and aromatic, Strawberries are the perfect choice for filling any compact space.
They delight not only with their flavour but also with their timing, ripening early in spring or even in late winter in subtropical regions, providing a welcomed source of fresh fruit during a typically sparse period of the year. Homegrown Strawberries are an irresistible treat for fresh eating, but they also lend themselves beautifully to baking, such as pies or tarts, as well as to preserves like jams. Modern gardeners can reap the rewards of centuries of breeding, with a plethora of Strawberry varieties available, each differing in fruit size, flavour, and even colour, yet all equally delicious. Many Strawberry cultivars are available, including the mid-season ‘Sugarbaby’ with its glossy, resilient, and flavourful fruits, the day-neutral Australian ‘Melba,’ which fruits whenever temperatures are between 20-30°C, and the vigorous, heavy-cropping ‘Tioga,’ which produces medium-sized, sweet berries.
Strawberry varieties can be categorized into three types based on their growth and fruiting habits: day-neutral, short-day (also known as June-bearing in the northern hemisphere), and long-day. Day-neutral varieties offer a continuous but moderate crop from spring to autumn, providing growers with a steady supply of fresh fruit. Short-day varieties produce a single, abundant crop in spring or even winter in subtropical regions, perfect for preserving, freezing, or baking in addition to fresh consumption. Long-day varieties yield harvests in late spring and late summer, though they are less common, with day-neutral varieties often considered an improvement due to their versatility. Given their minimal space requirements, gardeners can opt to plant both day-neutral and short-day varieties to enjoy both a glut and a prolonged harvest. Short-day varieties remain vegetative during summer, producing runners, while day-neutral varieties tend to grow more slowly and produce runners throughout the season.
As low-growing herbaceous plants with a spreading growth habit, strawberries serve as excellent ground cover while also being prolific producers of “runners,” which can easily propagate new plants. Shallow-rooted and requiring soil depths of less than 20cm, strawberries are incredibly space-efficient and well-suited to container gardening. Although they rarely exceed 20cm in height, their proximity to the ground makes them vulnerable to diseases and pests, although newer disease-resistant varieties help mitigate these risks.
Adaptable to a wide range of climates, from subtropical to cool temperate regions, Strawberries are easy to manage and straightforward to grow, making them an ideal choice even for novice gardeners. They thrive in full-sun positions with ample airflow and well-draining, fertile, slightly acidic soil, conditions easily met with container gardening.
Strawberries stand out as one of the most accessible and beginner-friendly plants to grow, offering fresh fruit during the otherwise bare early spring.

Plant Profile/Properties