Strawberry beds

Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants · April 2023

My OH has broached the idea of strawbs in raised beds. I'm not adverse and we have wood but what size is 'ideal'? Length will be from path to apple tree 6' maybe. Easy access both sides so the width of 2 plants or would 3 be overdoing it? And lastly how high? Doesn't need to be higher than 6", enough to get them up for good drainage.
(Answers on a postcard.)

Skandi · April 2023

3 plants would be fine as would 4 if you have access from both sides. And as high or as short as you want it, that is entirely up to you the strawberries will not care.

I found that three plants wide in the ground was to much, but that's because I straddle the beds to pick them and there's only so far my legs will stretch! But if you're picking from the sides I can't see why you can't go 4 wide.

purplerallim · April 2023

Depends on if you wish to save your back bending I suppose. 🙂
My raised beds are because I cannot kneel anymore, so are tall knee height. The strawberries, three deep, do well in a 8ft×2ft bed, but still need netting from those pesky blackbirds. 😁

Fairygirl · April 2023

Size is whatever you can manage really, as the others have said

Allow approx a foot to fifteen inches space per plant, and go from there. They need lots of food and water, so a good medium is more important than anything.
Having some room to peg down runners is also a good idea, but a lower bed means you can also peg them into pots nearby more easily.

pinut · April 2023

If it is only for strawberries and if constructing from scratch then I would make it like a long window box or roof guttering and elevate it off the ground below waist level.

The guttering design consists of two long planks of wood nailed or screwed together along the long edge at right angles to each other with two triangular end pieces.

Drill drainage holes and line with plastic (perhaps with the plastic from compost bags).

Plant at about 15-20cm apart. Angle the plants so that the fruits hang over the sides when they develop.

Growing strawberries this way makes it easier to maintain and to harvest.

If the strawberries are June bearers then you need only cosset them between about May and July (between the flowering and fruiting period). You can be less diligent the rest of the time - just keep them ticking along with minimal watering.

When the long runners appear and overhang the sides, just chop them off if you don't intend to propagate more plants.

Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants · April 2023

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm thinking 3 rows across with half early half late fruiting. Any suggestions?

Strawberry beds

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