Grow Guide: Growing Strawberries in Your Urban Garden

Nothing that screams “summer in the city” like a sun-warmed strawberry plucked straight from the plant. While the supermarket ones are often crunchy, watery, and travel-weary (not to mention very spenny!!) home-grown strawbs are a different beast entirely – sweet, juicy, and packed with actual flavour. Plus, they are perfect for small-space living; whether you have a dedicated patch or just a few hanging baskets on a balcony, strawberries are one of the most rewarding “bang for your buck” plants you can grow.

🕰️Best Time to Plant

• Late Winter to Early Spring: This is the prime time in Melbourne and most Australian urban climates. Getting them in early allows the root system to establish before the summer heat kicks in.
• Autumn: You can also plant in autumn to give them a massive head start for the following year.
• The Golden Rule: If you’re buying “bare-rooted” runners (the cheaper, twiggy-looking ones), get them in the ground while they’re still dormant in late winter.

📍Where to Plant

• Full sun: They need at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight to develop those sugars. If they’re in the shade, you’ll get leaves, but the berries will be sour (or non-existent).
• Pot-friendly: Strawberries have shallow roots, making them the kings of container gardening. Pots, hanging baskets, or even a vertical “strawberry tower” work wonders.
• Rich, slightly acidic soil: They love a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Mix in plenty of compost and a bit of well-rotted manure before planting.

🧑‍🌾How to Grow

1. Runners vs Seedlings: Skip the seeds (they take forever). Buy a punnet of seedlings or, for a real budget win, buy a bundle of bare-rooted runners.
2. The “Crown” Rule: This is the most important part! When planting, make sure the crown (where the leaves meet the roots) is sitting right at the soil surface. Bury it too deep and it rots; leave it too high and it dries out.
3. Spacing: Give them about 30cm of space. They like a bit of airflow to stop the berries from getting mouldy.

💧Watering & Feeding

• Keep it consistent: Strawberries hate drying out, but they also hate sitting in a swamp. Water at the base (not over the leaves) to prevent fungal issues.
• Mulch is mandatory: Spread a layer of straw or sugar cane mulch under the plants. This keeps the moisture in and, crucially, keeps the fruit off the dirt so it doesn’t rot. (Plus, it’s in the name: Straw-berry!)
• Feeding: Use a balanced organic fertiliser when you see new growth, then switch to a high-potassium “Fruit & Flower” feed (like a liquid tomato food) once those first blossoms appear.

🍽️Harvesting

• When to harvest: Wait until they are red all the way to the top. Strawberries don’t ripen much once they’re picked, so patience is a virtue here.
• How to harvest: Use your thumbnail to snip the stem about 1cm above the fruit. Don’t pull the berry, or you might damage the delicate plant.
• Ongoing harvest: The more you pick, the more they produce!

😱Common Problems (and Fixes)

• The Competition (Birds & Slugs): You aren’t the only one who wants these. Use bird netting if you have to, or sprinkle some eco-friendly snail pellets.
• Grey Mould: Usually caused by overhead watering or fruit touching damp soil. Improve airflow and use that mulch!
• Runners taking over: The plant will send out long “arms” to make baby plants. In the first year, snip these off so the plant focuses its energy on fruit, not babies.

👋Best Companion Plants:

• Borage → the ultimate strawberry BFF. It attracts bees like crazy and is said to improve the flavour.
• Onions & Garlic → the smell helps deter pests like aphids.
• Spinach → a great “filler” plant that enjoys the same moist, rich soil.
• (Avoid: Brassicas like broccoli or cauliflower – they can stunt the strawberry’s growth.)

💡My Urban Patch Take

Strawberries are the ultimate gateway drug for urban gardeners. They’re forgiving, they look beautiful spilling over the edge of a pot, and there is a genuine sense of victory in beating the local birds (or possums) to a ripe one. Just keep the water up on those 30-degree Aussie afternoons, and you’ll be set for a summer of snacks.

(Need a little refresher before getting started on your strawberry journey? Check out my Urban Garden Beginner’s Guide: 4 Essentials to Get Growing Fast)