Discovering the ideal spacing between strawberry plants translates to higher yields and a bigger harvest. Crowded plants are prone to disease, but if you plant these sweet treasures too far apart, you’re wasting precious garden space. In this article I’ll share information about how far apart to plant strawberries based on whether you’re growing them in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers.

A quick look at strawberry types

Before we dive into proper strawberry plant spacing, let me give a quick overview of strawberry plant types. There are three main types of strawberries: day neutral, everbearing, and June bearing.

Day-neutral strawberries produce a modest harvest of berries all season long. Everbearing strawberries produce two crops annually, one in the early summer and the other in autumn. June-bearing types produce a big crop in June and are perfect for jam-making. (There are also Alpine strawberries which are discussed in a separate article.)

There are dozens of named varieties of each of these types. Some of my favorites include Albion, Jewel, Seascape, and Earliglow. No matter which type of strawberry you grow, proper strawberry plant spacing matters. It’s one of the most important factors to consider when growing strawberries.

Why proper spacing between strawberry plants matters

Regardless of the variety you’re growing, it’s important to be mindful of the best spacing between strawberry plants because it influences many factors throughout the growing season.

1. Proper plant spacing means improved air flow in the bed which helps reduce the occurrence of diseases, including verticillium wilt, brown rot, and botrytis. Crowded strawberry beds mean more disease. Look for disease resistance when selecting which varieties to plant.
2. Strawberry plants with ample room to grow see less damage from pests such as slugs and snails which love to hide in very dense foliage.
3. When strawberry plant spacing is optimum, each plant has ample access to sunshine, water, and nutrients (more on soil fertility later).
4. While spacing does not directly impact the fruits’ flavor, it can impact the size of the fruits. Crowded plants often produce smaller fruits. Plants with plenty of room tend to produce larger fruits.

Where to plant your strawberries

Think about your planting site before deciding how many plants to purchase. By knowing how large the area is, you can purchase just enough plants to fill it without crowding. Don’t waste your money buying plants you don’t need (plus, if you have more than you need, you’ll be more tempted to sandwich more in than you should!).

There are three places you can plant strawberries: in raised beds, in-ground beds, or containers. Below, I’ll discuss the best spacing between strawberry plants for each of these three planting sites.

Plant spacing for potted vs bare-root strawberry plants

Next, consider whether you want to buy potted strawberry plants or bare-root plants for your new strawberry bed. I’ve done both.

Potted plants tend to be more expensive, and the variety selection may be more limited if you buy them locally. But, they’ll likely be available for purchase through most of the growing season.

Bare-root strawberry plants come in bundles of 25 or 50. They are economical and simple to plant. Purchase them through a seed catalog or on-line fruit nursery. The downside is that they are only available in the very early spring when the plants are still dormant.

The strawberry plant spacing guidelines below apply to both bare-root plants and potted plants.

The best spacing between strawberry plants for in-ground beds

If you are opting to create a strawberry bed directly in the ground, you can plant in blocks or rows. Commercial farms often plant in a matted row system where the plants are planted in raised rows that have been covered in plastic. At home, there’s no need go to such efforts; simply plant them in the ground.

To provide enough room for the production of ample leaves and fruiting stems, space plants between 10 and 14 inches apart when growing in the ground. Rows should be 18-24 inches apart.

Strawberry plant spacing for raised beds

For gardeners growing in raised beds, the best strawberry plant spacing is between 8 and 10 inches apart in staggered rows. Since raised beds are up off the ground, the air circulation tends to be a bit better than at ground level, so tighter spacing is possible.

In raised beds, you’ll also likely be more religious about regularly removing the runners, especially if they extend down over the sides of the beds. Here’s a more extensive article on our site about growing strawberries in raised beds.

How far apart to plant strawberries in containers

I grow a lot of June-bearing and ever-bearing strawberries in containers and fabric grow bags close to the house for quick and easy harvests. I do not use the clay pots with pockets in the side known as “strawberry pots” because they dry out too quickly. Instead, I use low and wide pots made from glazed ceramic or fabric grow bags, but any container with drainage will do.

When planting strawberries in pots, plants can be spaced just 6 to 8 inches apart. Denser planting results in higher yields, but it is essential that you remove the runners regularly and properly overwinter the container if you want them to survive for several years. Here’s an article on this site with extensive information about growing strawberries in pots.

How to plant bare-root strawberries

If you purchase bare-root strawberries, keep them in refrigerator storage if you can’t plant them right away. They are dormant and you want to keep them that way. Aim to plant within a week or two of the plants’ arrival. When you’re ready to plant, soak the bundle in a bowl of water for 8 hours.

Head to your strawberry patch and lay the bare-root crowns out across the area, keeping the best spacing between strawberry plants in mind based on your planting site. If you have extra plants, don’t cram them in; find another spot or grow them in a pot.

To plant bare-root strawberries, dig each one a small hole that’s no deeper than the root system. Spread the roots out into the hole and then backfill. The small nubby crown of the plant (which may or may not have a few leaves sprouting from it), should sit just above ground level. Water them in deeply.

Thinning strawberry plant runners

Each year, most gardeners like to cut the baby runner plants off of each mother plant. This is said to keep the mother plant more productive for more years, and it supposedly leads to larger fruits. I’m going to be honest here and tell you that in my 30 years of gardening (and as a previous owner of an organic market farm), I have never once removed the runners from my strawberry plants, except when growing them in pots. Even in their first year.

I have always felt this advice was more geared toward commercial growers. I let the plants run all over the place, and every two years, I dig up the runners to give more space to the mother plants, and then I plant those runners into a new strawberry bed. It helps my garden to be more self-sustaining.

Re-planting old strawberry beds

Every 3 to 5 years, you may find your strawberry bed peters out, especially if you remove all the runners. The mother plants eventually start dying out, and without new plants to replace them, production fades. When this happens, it’s time for a renovation.

To renovate a strawberry planting, remove all the old plants, mix in a healthy amount of compost, and replant the area with new plants. I like to choose a different variety, if possible. Sometimes I replant the bed with runners from strawberry plants in another area of the garden; other times I purchase new plants.

When renovating a bed, be sure to keep the ideal spacing for strawberry plants outlined above in mind for the best results.

Quick tips for strawberry plant care

Here are a few additional items to keep in mind when planting and growing strawberries.

• Keep the site free of weeds that can outcompete your plants for light, water, and nutrients. Control weeds by hand pulling and mulching.
• At the start of each new growing season, trim back your strawberry plants to remove the dead leaves, old fruits, and other debris. A clean and tidy bed is less prone to disease.
• In the fall, mulch your strawberry bed with straw or shredded leaves to help the plants survive heavy frost and freezes.
• Prior to planting, conduct a soil test to determine soil pH and nutrient levels. Phosphorus is particularly important for fruiting crops. Adjust the soil pH and fertility according to the results of the soil test.
• Once a year, if desired, you can add a strawberry fertilizer to the bed, but this is not necessary if your plants are performing well. It should provide a slow-release, organic source of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, plus trace nutrients.
• Adequate soil moisture is important for strawberry plants, too, especially during their first year after planting. Water them deeply once a week if growing in the ground, twice a week for raised bed strawberries, and every other day for containers.

Room to grow

With the right strawberry plant spacing, a fruitful harvest is in your future. No matter where you grow and what kinds of strawberries you decide to plant, get the plant spacing right, care for your plants properly, and enjoy each tasty bite.

For more on strawberry success, please visit these articles:

• Raised bed strawberry culture
• Tips on when to fertilize strawberries
• Growing strawberries in pots and hanging baskets
• How to transplant strawberries
• Other types of berries for container growing
• Berry recipes
• How to freeze berries