Few things beat the taste of a sweet, sun-warmed strawberry picked straight from the garden. Strawberries are not only delicious but also surprisingly easy to grow with the right preparation and care. At Lumpy’s, we’ve got a fantastic selection of strawberry seedlings ready for planting, plus everything you need to set yourself up for success. Here’s your guide to growing your own juicy strawberries.
🌱 Choosing the Right Variety
Different strawberry varieties offer different flavours, colours, and growth habits, so it’s worth mixing and matching for a longer harvest and a bit of fun in the garden. At Lumpy’s, we stock:
- Fresca – Compact, ideal for pots and small spaces.
- Sweetheart – Reliable, sweet flavour and high yields.
- Handstand Mega – Produces impressively large fruit.
- Running Red – Vigorous grower with classic red strawberries.
- Running White – A striking variety with pale fruit and delicate flavour.
- Pink Flowering – Ornamental as well as productive, with lovely pink blooms followed by tasty berries.
🌱 Preparing the Soil
Strawberries thrive in well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Before planting:
- Dig in compost or well-rotted manure to boost soil fertility.
- Choose a sunny spot, as strawberries need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily for maximum sweetness.
- If your soil tends to stay wet, consider raising the bed or planting in containers to avoid root rot.
🌿 Planting & Growing Tips
- Spacing: Plant seedlings about 30cm apart, with rows 40–50cm apart, to allow good airflow and reduce disease.
- Containers: Strawberries are perfect for pots and hanging baskets. Try our Terracotta Strawberry Planter – specially designed with pockets for multiple plants, creating a beautiful and productive display.
- Mulching: Use straw, sugarcane mulch, or pine needles around plants to keep fruit off the soil, conserve moisture, and reduce weeds.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially while fruit is forming, but avoid waterlogging. A drip system or watering at the base is ideal to prevent fungal problems.
- Feeding: Fertilise with a potassium-rich fertiliser every 2–3 weeks to encourage flowers and fruit.
🍓 Fruiting & Harvesting
- Strawberries usually begin fruiting 6–8 weeks after planting.
- Harvest when the berries are fully coloured and glossy – once picked, strawberries won’t ripen further.
- Pick regularly to encourage more flowers and fruit.
- For best flavour, harvest in the morning when the berries are cool and firm.
🌟 Top Tips for Success
- Remove runners (long stems that grow away from the main plant) in the first year to help plants focus on producing fruit. In later years, you can let runners root to grow new plants.
- Protect ripening strawberries from birds with netting.
- Replace plants every 3 years for the best harvests, as older plants lose vigour.
đź›’ Ready to Grow?
At Lumpy’s, we’ve got everything you need to get started:
âś… Strawberry seedling punnets
âś… Our Terracotta Strawberry Planter, perfect for patios and balconies
âś… Fertilisers, mulches, and expert advice from our friendly team
Nothing tastes sweeter than strawberries you’ve grown yourself – so why not plant some today and enjoy your very own harvest this season? 🍓✨