Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
A fruit, planted March to May or August to September.
In September: cut the old leaves off the strawberry and pick the crop. It can be planted now.
Your first month is free. No card. Then £4.99 a month or £39.99 a year. You sign in with a link we email you, with no password.
Strawberry, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown strawberry. | usual | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | usual |
| Plant a bare-root strawberry. | usual | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | usual |
| Take the flowers off the strawberry. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none |
| Cut the runners off the strawberry. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none |
| Tuck straw under the strawberry. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none |
| Pick the strawberries. | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual |
| Cut the old leaves off the strawberry. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown strawberry March to May, and August to September, 35 to 40cm apart, rows 75cm apart. Strong source: RHS.
Plant a bare-root strawberry March to May, and August to September, 35 to 40cm apart, rows 75cm apart. Strong source: RHS.
Take the flowers off the strawberry
Depending on type and planting time, removing the first flush of flowers can aid establishment and later cropping.
Usually April to June. Strong source: RHS.
Cut the runners off the strawberry
Use spare runners to fill gaps or replace old plants, and remove the rest to prevent overcrowding.
Usually May. Moderate sources: RHS and Gardeners’ World.
Tuck straw under the strawberry
Put it down as fruits form, to keep them off damp ground and clean; remove the straw in autumn.
Usually May to June. Strong sources: RHS and Gardeners’ World.
Pick the strawberries
Usually June to September. Strong source: RHS.
Cut the old leaves off the strawberry
On summer-fruiting plants, cut the leaves about 10cm above the crown so fresh leaves can grow.
Usually August to November. Strong sources: RHS and Chris Bowers & Sons.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Strawberry” comes from.