When to Plant Strawberry in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Plant March to April and July to September. Right now in October it is out of season. The next planting month is March.

Planting window
Plant runners or crowns in autumn for a first crop in late spring, or plant bare-root runners in late winter to early spring. A mix of...
Days to harvest
about 13 weeks
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours). In tropical/subtropical zones, afternoon shade beneficial.
Water needs
Regular consistent moisture during flowering and fruiting, 2-3cm per week. Drip...
Spacing
30cm apart, 75cm between rows
Soil pH
5.5-6.5

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Strawberry guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Strawberry

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Strawberries are one of Australia's favourite home garden fruits, producing sweet berries from compact plants that thrive in garden beds, pots, and hanging baskets. Understanding the difference between short-day, day-neutral, and everbearing types is critical for choosing the right variety for your zone. Plants produce via runners and need renovation every 2-3 years for best production.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - P P - - P P P - - -

P = Planting window

Plant runners or crowns in autumn for a first crop in late spring, or plant bare-root runners in late winter to early spring. A mix of varieties spreads the picking from late spring into autumn.

Want a nudge when it is Strawberry sowing time in Canberra?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Strawberry included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.6°C (optimal range: 15–25°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Strawberry in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Plant runners or crowns in autumn for a first crop in late spring, or plant bare-root runners in late winter to early spring. A mix of varieties spreads the picking from late spring into autumn.

Soil
Well-drained, slightly acidic soil enriched with compost. Sandy loam is ideal. Raised beds or mounded rows improve drainage. Strawberries hate waterlogged roots.
pH Range
5.5-6.5
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours). In tropical/subtropical zones, afternoon shade beneficial.
Spacing
30cm apart, 75cm between rows
Watering
Regular consistent moisture during flowering and fruiting, 2-3cm per week. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses preferred. NEVER overhead water when fruit is developing. Causes grey mould (Botrytis)...

Companion plants: Borage (attracts pollinators, improves flavour, traditional companion), Lettuce, Spinach, Onion, Sage, Thyme

Avoid planting near: Brassicas, Fennel, Tomato, Capsicum

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Strawberry

Recommended Varieties

  • Chandler
  • Camarosa
  • Red Gauntlet

Key Challenges

  • Short season
  • Late frosts kill flowers
  • Snow cover in winter

Pro Tips

  • Short but intense harvest season with excellent flavour due to cool night temperatures
  • Row covers extend season at both ends
  • Mulch heavily over winter for crown protection

Harvesting Strawberry

When ready: Fully red/coloured all over (no white shoulders). Slight give when gently pressed. Fragrant strawberry aroma. Berries do NOT continue ripening after picking.

How to harvest: Pick in the morning when cool. Pinch stem 1cm above berry with thumbnail or use small scissors. Handle gently, strawberries bruise easily. Place in single layer in container. Refrigerate immediately or eat within hours.

Worth growing?

A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 12 plants, about $90 worth at today’s Aldi and Coles prices, checked today.

That is roughly 6 kg at $14.99 a kilo.

Draw your strawberry bed → No account needed.

Where to next

What strawberry costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this October: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Celeriac and Kohlrabi.

The pest most likely to find your strawberry: Common Garden Snail.

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Common Questions About Strawberry

When do you plant strawberry in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.