Strawberry plant spacing

[Greenleaves]

I have a bed 3.60 x 1.0 mtrs how many strawberry plants should I plant? In addition to spacing do I need to stick to a single variety?

Thanks

[Penellype]

According to my book (I consult books when other people ask things like this because I always cram far too many plants into small spaces) the plants should be 15 inches (38cm) apart in rows 30inches (75cm) apart. I think therefore you would get 2 rows of 9 plants. I must admit that sounds a huge amount of space to me! Alternatively if you are doing a square foot garden, you can apparently put 4 plants to a square (that's more like what I would do!) but you need to keep them well trimmed of any runners if you do that.

I don't see any need to stick to all of the same variety. If you choose carefully you can extend the season by getting some plants that fruit later. Everbearers produce 2 crops per year, but you need to choose carefully because some don't have much flavour. I've been trying to get hold of some Aromel for a while now because they are supposed to be good.

[WendyC]

in principle it is a good idea to plant different varieties to extend the cropping season. However when I first planted strawberries, I planted three varieties but found I never had enough ready at anyone time to do anything with. It depends how many people you will want to feed and whether you want to make jam. I just have two varieties and although the season is shorter there is plenty for us all.

[Greenleaves]

Thank you both

[Alison]

Alternatively if you are doing a square foot garden, you can apparently put 4 plants to a square

That is VERY close, would have thought one per square foot is more like it, planting 4 in that space will cause them to compete and inhibit air flow for ripening. Did you mean square meter rather than foot? Personally I think 12" both ways is fine for spacing if you're not walking between them ie no dig beds but far more between rows if you need to include for paths.

[Greenleaves]

Thanks Alison, I have kept the bed deliberately at 1mtr to avoid walking

[Penellype]

That is VERY close, would have thought one per square foot is more like it, planting 4 in that space will cause them to compete and inhibit air flow for ripening. Did you mean square meter rather than foot? Personally I think 12" both ways is fine for spacing if you're not walking between them ie no dig beds but far more between rows if you need to include for paths.

I looked it up on the internet for square foot distances - I haven't got mine in a square foot bed. Mine are in towers, which puts them something like 6 inches apart. As I say, I tend to cram things in!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Mine are in 6" x 6" containers 24" long, 3 per container. As folks have said you have to be careful with runners taking root but again this is not to much off a problem as I can hang them over the side of the container, any I intend to use I put them in a 3" pot and hold them down with a clothes peg.

[Kristen]

My advice would be not to have too few plants of each variety - otherwise you won't get much of a crop, and thus the risk that all you have is enough to nibble one or two whilst on the plot (which might be fine? but you might prefer a meal-for-two, or more )

Everbearers have very light crops, so although they fruit over a longer period and/or several crops per season, I found I needed more plants to compensate for the lower yield, and I've now ditched them in favour of having several varieties, to prolong the cropping season, and having a generous yield for a "strawberry season" and then we move on to enjoying something else (e.g. Raspberries)

[Greenleaves]

Thank you Kristen useful advice

[Kristen]

Having said that! I was frugal and only BOUGHT a few plants, and then took Runners off them the first year to get the total number I wanted. Mediocre crop the first year of course ...

[pigletwillie]

I grow my strawberries in raised beds that are a metre wide. I plant three rows, one in the middle and one close to each edge. The middle row is staggered to the outer rows if that makes sense. All plants in a row are planted 18" apart. The plants along the side conveniently have their fruit hanging over the edge making picking easier.

Just feed and water well.

[Greenleaves]

Thanks for the advice pigletwillie