Strawberry Plugs, Plants, and Seedlings for Sale in South Africa

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Helderberg Farm supply quality Strawberry Plugs, Plants, Seedlings to home gardeners, small growers, farms and nurseries across South Africa.

To be successful at growing strawberries. plant the correct variety at the right time and follow the growing tips below.

TWO MAIN TYPES OF STRAWBERRIES

Spring Bearing (Short-Day) Strawberries for example Selecta

Planting Time: Autumn (end of March to end of May)
Flower & Fruit Time: Spring (September to December) ONLY

Everbearing (Day Neutral) Strawberries for example Aromas

Planting Time: Any time of year (for best results, from end of March to end of August)
Flower & Fruit Time: Any time of year under ideal growing conditions

HOW DO I ORDER MY STRAWBERRY PLANTS?

Please read below information prior to placing your order:

For any inquiries / costs or to place an order, kindly send an e-mail to: helderbergplaas@mweb.co.za

We sell both Spring Bearing & Everbearing Strawberry Plugs. Limited stock available.

To ensure that we can fulfill your required order quantities, kindly place your order ahead by the end of November.

Any orders placed after the 30^th of November cannot be guaranteed but will work on first come basis.

Spring Bearing plugs are only sold from the 20^th of March until 30^th of April. Everbearing plugs are sold from the 20^th of March until the 31^st of August.

Minimum order 25 plugs. Discount for orders of more than 100 plugs.

TIPS ON HOW TO PLANT & GROW STRAWBERRIES IN SOUTH AFRICAN HOME GARDENS:

Every home gardener should have the joy of sharing the fruits from his flourishing strawberry patch with his family and friends. The following information may help you to successfully grow your own strawberries. These guidelines will help you to know how and when to plant in your specific location.

Ideal Climate –

Optimal temperature for flowers & fruit development is 15 – 28°C. Minimum sunlight of 6 – 8 hours per day. During hot summers, you need the perfect balance of sunlight & shade. Morning sun and afternoon shade is preferable. Always keep good ventilation and direction of prevailing winds in mind when planning a structure. Temperatures of below zero can be withstand under certain conditions.
Challenging Climatical Conditions: Cold wet winters with hot summers / Frost / Dry winters with hot wet summers.
Suggestions: Cultivar choice / Use of straw / Frost net / Low tunnels / Shade net (40-60%) from mid October until end of March.

Ideal Variety –

There are 2 main types of strawberry varieties available:

Spring Bearing (Short Day Varieties): Flower initiation requires a day length of less than 12 hours. Selecta & Chandler is well known in South Africa. Selecta is one of the best choices for root / leaf / fruit disease resistance.
Everbearing (Day Neutral Varieties) for example Aromas: Flower & fruit throughout the year under ideal conditions.

Planting Time –

Spring Bearing Varieties: Plant your plugs/seedlings as soon as the extreme summer heat ends (end of March to end of April). Plants needs to develop as much as possible before the cold weather sets in. Flowering should start in July/August under ideal conditions.

Everbearing Varieties: Plant your plugs/seedlings from end of March until end of August for best results. Under ideal conditions, the earlier it’s planted, the earlier it’ll start bearing fruit. In mild winter areas, staggering your planting dates every 4-6 weeks will ensure an extended peak harvest.

Plants from containers other than plugs/seedlings purchased during winter: Can be planted throughout winter months, even early spring, for they are already well developed.

Plants from containers other than plugs/seedlings purchased during summer: Plant as normal. If they do not flower, wait until the first week of April, then cut back all old growth and fertilize. It should grow out and flower as normal. Shade net can be helpful against hot sun.

Harvest –

Spring Bearing Varieties: Fruiting starts in August/September & peak in mid-October/November. Crop should be around 500 grams per plant or more. The crop is concentrated in about 10 to 12 weeks.

Everbearing Varieties: Fruiting starts around 3 months after planting. The crop should be around 500 grams or more over the extended period of 6-8 months, depending on conditions. Staggered planting will extend your peak harvest.

Planting Method –

In row spacing of 30 – 35 cm. Narrow spacing may decrease ventilation and increase risk of diseases. Planting depth must be just below the crown (the part where new leaves and flowers are formed). Roots must be covered with soil (exposure may lead to stress, disease / stunted growth). Mulching will restrict water loss, as well as keeping soil cool, prevent weeds and keep fruit clean.

Soil, Fertilizing & Seedbeds –

Strawberries can be planted directly in soil / on raised beds / planter boxes pots / hanging baskets / hydroponics. Use same direction for seedbeds & structures as prevailing winds for maximum ventilation. A raised bed will help with water run off to prevent over irrigation. Use deep, well drained organic soil. Maintain pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Compost tea every 7-10 days will help keep soil and roots healthy and will result in better disease resistance. Strawberries do well in compost rich soil. Use only well matured compost with low salt content. Use chemical fertilizer wisely. The shallow root system is highly sensitive for saline soil. Regular foliar sprays will help balance nutrient supplies and lead to healthy disease resistant plants. Young leaves should have a healthy dark green color. Regular feeding in small quantities is key.

Caring –

Irrigation. Water management is crucial. Keep moist, but not too wet. Leaves should be kept dry. Drip irrigation ( A timer is a valuable tool) is a preferable option. Dry periods will damage the shallow roots and result in root rot / diseases. Remove all flowers, runners and old leaves until the plants are well established with new growth of 5-8 leaves. Continue removing runners, discolored leaves, and rotten fruit. This will stimulate new growth and flowers. Do not add the debris on your compost heap. Fertilize, foliar feed and add compost tea regularly. Ask your local nursery expert about slow-release fertilizer.

Diseases & Pests –

Prevention is better than cure. Reduce stress factors such as too deep planting, reduced sunlight hours, bad sanitation (rotten fruit & sick leaves), poor ventilation, dry periods, continuous overhead irrigation / rain, waterlogging, temperature stress & weeds. A healthy stress-free plant has a better chance to resist leaf / fruit / root diseases. Pests such as red spider, caterpillars, centipede, aphids, thrips / snails may also be a challenge, ask your local nursery expert for advice.