If you receive your strawberry plants in the next few weeks, it is a good idea not to plant them in waterlogged soil as they do not fare well. You can, however, plant quite happily along a ridge of soil, or in pots with good drainage holes.
Planting strawberries along a ridge
Simply scoop soil into a long ridge – it need only be 15cm high – running along the length of the row. Pat it gently into shape and then plant the strawberries at intervals. You should find it is quite easy to plant them although the sides of your ridge of soil may loosen – just pat the soil back to firm it together again.
Planting strawberries in containers
A good option would be to fill a rectangular crate-like planter, approximately 15-20cm deep, with compost so that you can plant several plants together. Alternatively, choose individual pots and containers – each plant will need about 20cm growing space. Hanging baskets are a good choice. Whichever option you choose, be sure to make sure the containers have good drainage – you may choose to drill an extra couple of holes at the base, or add a few crocks (old broken pots are good) at the base before filling with compost. If the container is not hanging, then raise it off the ground slightly by propping it on bricks or an old pallet as this will help drainage too.
Prefer to wait and plant when it is drier?
Since our strawberry plants are sent in fibre pots there is no problem at all to pop them all on a tray and keep them in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill or porch for a few weeks until the soil is a little less wet. Just remember to water them so that the pots don’t dry out.