When to plant strawberries in spring in the ground and in balcony containers?

Are you planning to plant strawberries but have no experience in growing them? Or perhaps you have grown these perennials before, but the yields were not satisfactory? In strawberry cultivation it is very important to keep to the correct planting time, because work done too late or too early in the garden may result in poor fruiting or even the loss of the plants. It does not matter whether you want to grow strawberries in the ground, in a greenhouse or in pots — you must follow the recommended dates! Growing strawberries will be much more successful if you plan it well.

Growing strawberries — early and late varieties and their planting times

The planting time of strawberries depends on several factors. You must know whether the variety is early or late, and you must also consider its frost resistance. If the planting time for strawberries falls at the end of April but the weather is very cold, it is better to wait before planting delicate strawberries until the conditions improve. However, the delay must not be too long. It is also important to know what type of plants you have. We recommend frigo plants, which are stored in cold rooms during winter. Such plants produce fruit even 6 weeks after planting, and their fruiting time can be adjusted.

If you want to grow early strawberries, including varieties such as 'Honeoye' and 'Kent' (which begin fruiting at the end of May), and decide on frigo strawberry plants, plant them in mid-April. It should be added that in the following year, plants grown from frigo plants fruit according to the natural fruiting time of the variety.

If you prefer green early-season strawberry plants, plant them at the beginning of April, or even at the end of March if the weather is warm. Early season strawberry plants should be protected with horticultural fleece.

Bare-root early strawberries can also be planted in September or early October. You can also choose potted early-season plants. In this case, planting should be done in the first days of April. They can also be planted in summer, at the turn of July and August.

Do you prefer to grow late-season varieties such as 'Murzynek' and 'Florence'? If you choose late-season frigo strawberry plants, plan to plant them at the end of May (if you want to harvest fruit in July in the first year of cultivation). Green late-season strawberry plants are planted at the beginning of May or in October, before the first frosts. If you opt for potted plants, they should be planted in the second half of May or at the end of summer.

When to plant strawberries in spring in the ground?

Strawberries can be grown in many conditions — some people plant them in gardens, others in tunnels, on balconies, or even in barrels. Planting strawberries directly in the ground is very popular. In this case, follow the planting times mentioned above.

Remember that strawberries must not be planted when the soil is frozen. Planting strawberries in the ground in spring takes place from the beginning of vegetation, usually from mid-March until mid-May. At this time, it is best to protect them with horticultural fleece.

The autumn planting time for strawberries falls in September and October, and in good weather also at the beginning of November. Mid-summer is also a suitable moment.

When to plant strawberries in a greenhouse?

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse has many advantages. In such conditions, you can control the fruiting time without worrying about the weather outside. Strawberries grown in greenhouses are protected from frost, hail and heavy rain. Additionally, greenhouse cultivation allows you to harvest fruit when strawberries from other sources are not available. It is also easier to prevent diseases and control pests.

An especially profitable method of greenhouse strawberry production is double cropping, with harvests in autumn and spring. For this method, strawberries must be planted in August, no later than the third week of the month. Strawberry plants can also be planted in a greenhouse in March.

If you are interested in greenhouse strawberry cultivation, consider varieties that perform particularly well in such conditions. One of the most popular is the ‘Elsanta’ strawberry.

When can balcony strawberries be planted?

If you do not have a garden, do not worry — many people successfully grow strawberries on balconies. This type of cultivation can give you a surprisingly good yield and a lot of satisfaction. However, strawberries grown in balcony containers have specific requirements, and these must be respected to avoid disappointment. Remember that balcony strawberries can also be damaged by frost.

A potted strawberry will grow well if planted so that its roots do not curl, but this is not the only requirement. Do not plant it too early, or the plant may die. The best time for planting balcony strawberries in pots or containers is a sunny day in May. Frost may still occur after warm May days, so plants must then be protected with fleece. If you intend to overwinter strawberries on the balcony, choose varieties with strong frost resistance.

When to plant everbearing strawberries?

If you plant a hanging variety, which is ideal for balcony cultivation, you can expect fruit from June until late autumn. However, it is important to note that hanging (climbing) varieties require regular fertilisation. Everbearing strawberries should be planted in May, when frost is unlikely. If the temperature drops after planting, protect the plants from freezing with fleece or straw.