Choice of site

Strawberries are susceptible to spring frosts so it is important to make sure that the site is not a frost pocket. Frost pockets may be caused by anything which prevents the slow flow of cold air away to lower ground. Avoid low lying areas of ground which may collect cold air.

Apart from this the strawberry grows and crops best under sheltered conditions. Wind can seriously reduce growth so a sheltered site with a gentle south-westerly slope is ideal.

Strawberries will succeed on a wide range of soils but a deep medium loam is preferred. Strawberry plants will not tolerate impeded drainage or waterlogging as this will lead to root diseases and death of the plant.

Light soils will have higher temperatures in the spring so growth will start earlier. However, these soils will dry out more quickly in the summer and without irrigation plants may suffer from stress. Heavy soils, while holding moisture and nutrients, may not be sufficiently well drained for modern day strawberry varieties.