Strawberry should be ready to harvest this month — check for size and colour.
Growing Calendar
This month: Jun
Log to journalReady to harvest now
- •Check size and ripeness
- •Harvest regularly
- •Store or use fresh
Watch Out For
Botrytis (grey mould) spreads rapidly in wet weather
remove affected fruit immediately, improve airflow and avoid overhead watering
Slugs and snails eat ripe fruit overnight
use copper tape around containers and check plants every evening once fruits begin to colour
Birds take ripe fruit fast
net the plants before the first fruits begin to colour, not after you notice the first one missing
Grown Organically
Every method in this guide works with natural systems — no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.
Read our approachCommon Questions
About growing Strawberry in the UK
When should I plant strawberries in the UK?
Plant runners or bare-root strawberries from August to October for fruiting the following summer. Spring planting (March–May) is also possible but may give a smaller first-year crop. Remove flowers in the first year to build plant strength.
Why are my strawberries small?
Small fruit is usually caused by overwatering, poor pollination, overcrowded plants, or plants that are several years old and need renewing. Thin plants to 30–40cm spacing, renew beds every 3–4 years from runners, and water consistently.
How do I stop birds eating my strawberries?
Net strawberry plants before fruits start to colour — birds take fruit at the first hint of red. Low hoops with fine netting work well. Remove netting during the day if possible to allow pollinator access.
How long do strawberry plants last?
Strawberry plants are most productive in years 1–3. From year 4 onwards, yield and fruit size decline. Renew beds by pegging down healthy runners to root in small pots, then transplanting. This keeps your patch perpetually young.
Should I feed strawberries, and when?
Feed established strawberry plants with a high-potassium liquid feed (such as tomato feed) every two weeks from when they begin flowering until fruiting ends. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds during the fruiting period — they produce soft, watery fruit with poor flavour. After fruiting, a single balanced feed helps plants build energy for next year.
Should I grow alliums alongside my strawberries?
Yes — garlic, chives and onions are all useful companions in a strawberry bed. Alliums produce sulphur compounds that have antifungal properties, which can help reduce pressure from botrytis (grey mould) — strawberries' most damaging fungal disease. Their scent also deters aphids. Garlic has the highest sulphur content and is the strongest choice; chives are the most practical as a permanent border plant; onions work on the same principle and can be interplanted between rows. All three have shallow roots that do not compete significantly with strawberry plants.
Member guides
There's more to growing Strawberry than this guide covers.
Seasonal reminders, deeper guides, and the small adjustments that change a harvest.