Vegetables/Easy
Strawberries
Fragaria × ananassa
Home-grown strawberries taste like a different fruit to shop-bought — sweeter, softer, more perfumed. A single healthy plant yields 400–500 g of fruit a year and lives 3–4 seasons before needing replacement with fresh runners.
Mulch under the leaves with straw to keep fruit clean and dry, and net the bed once berries start to ripen or the birds will beat you to it. After the last harvest, cut back the old foliage to 5 cm — the plant will regrow strong for next spring.
Year at a glance
Common problems
Grey fluffy mould on the fruit
Botrytis (grey mould). Improve airflow, mulch under fruit with straw, and pick affected berries away.
Powdery white leaves
Powdery mildew. Space plants and water at the base only.
Full guide: Powdery Mildew →Small, poorly formed berries
Poor pollination or the plant is over 4 years old. Encourage pollinators and replace with fresh runners.
Questions, answered
How long do strawberry plants last?+
Three to four productive years. Replace with rooted runners in summer to keep beds cropping heavily.
Should I cut off runners?+
During the fruiting season, yes — they drain energy from the fruit. In late summer, keep the strongest ones to root as replacement plants.
Why are my strawberries so small?+
Old plants, drought during flowering, or lack of feeding. Water deeply during flowering and feed weekly with a high-potash liquid feed.