How to grow strawberries in a raised bed

Strawberries are made for raised beds — the fruit hangs over the edge clean and off the soil, out of reach of many slugs, and right at picking height.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun, 6+ hours
• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 23 cm or 35 cm depth
• Time to harvest: fruits through spring and summer

When should I plant strawberries?

Plant runners in autumn or early spring. Strawberries are perennials, so they'll crop for a few seasons before you refresh them. Our free garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): April to July
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): March to August
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): March to April and August to October
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): April to June
• Arid inland: April to July

How do I grow strawberries in a raised bed?

Plant with the crown right at soil level — too deep and they rot, too high and they dry out. A raised bed's drainage and height keep the fruit clean and the slugs at bay.

How often should I water and feed strawberries?

Keep moisture even, especially as fruit swells, but water the soil, not the fruit, to avoid rot. A drip system is perfect. Feed while fruiting.

What pests attack strawberries?

Keep an eye out for slugs and snails, aphids, two-spotted mite and earwigs. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide. Wilting plants that lift out easily? Check for curl grubs.

What diseases affect strawberries?

The main ones are powdery mildew, leaf spot and rust. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

What grows well with strawberries?

Borage, lettuce and spinach are good companions; keep strawberries away from brassicas. See our companion planting guide.

When do I harvest strawberries?

Pick when the berries are fully red, ideally in the cool of the morning — they're sweetest then and don't keep long, so eat them fresh.

Plan your patch: our free garden calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Kolforn (Wikimedia Commons user, own work), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.