rose family

Strawberries

Fragaria × ananassa · Easy

A compact perennial fruit usually kept for several seasons before the old bed is replaced elsewhere.

Sow

Usually bought as runners or plants rather than sown.

Plant runners in spring or late summer to early autumn.

Early summer into autumn, depending on type.

Practical growing notes

High-value fruit from small spaces, with runners providing replacement plants.

Protect fruit from birds and slugs; renew old beds elsewhere to reduce replant and disease problems.

Keep the bed moving

A robust cut-and-come-again leaf crop that can bridge summer, autumn and the following spring.

A succession-friendly salad crop, especially useful as loose-leaf or cut-and-come-again types.

A quick cool-season leaf crop for spring and autumn, with repeat pickings from small sowings.

A low-maintenance overwintering crop planted as named, disease-free cloves.