How to Keep Strawberries Fruiting All Summer

Strawberries are one of those crops that feel deeply seasonal. When they’re happy, they’ll keep producing for months. When they’re stressed, you’ll get a short flush of fruit and then… not much.

The secret to summer-long strawberries isn’t more products. It’s about getting the basics right and keeping plants steady rather than pushed.

Start with the right conditions

Strawberries are shallow-rooted plants, which means they respond quickly to stress. They do best when conditions stay even and predictable.

They need full sun (at least 6 hours a day), free-draining soil, regular moisture, and good airflow around the plants. Inconsistent watering is one of the biggest reasons strawberry plants slow down or stop fruiting. Deep watering every few days is far better than frequent light sprinkles.

Mulch makes a huge difference here, helping to stabilise soil moisture and temperature.

Feeding without overdoing it

Strawberries don’t need heavy feeding. In fact, too much nitrogen will give you lush leaves and fewer berries.

Liquid seaweed supports flowering, fruit set, and helps plants cope with heat and stress. Apply it around the base of the plant, avoid wetting flowers and fruit, and use it every 2–3 weeks during the fruiting season.

Cow manure tea is a gentle, homemade feed that supports steady growth. Use well-rotted cow manure, make a weak tea, and apply every 3–4 weeks. Think support rather than boost. Little and often keeps plants productive without tipping them into leaf growth.

Managing runners for long-term productivity

Strawberry plants naturally want to spread, sending out runners once they’re established.

A simple rule is to keep the first runner from strong, high-yielding plants and remove the rest. Each runner produces several baby plants along the stem, and the first one closest to the parent is the strongest and the best to keep.

If a plant hasn’t produced well, it’s best not to propagate from it. Runners are clones, so choosing plants that fruit heavily now sets you up for better harvests later.

To "root" runners, place a small pot filled with free-draining, organic-rich soil beside the mother plant (free-draining base, compost mixed with a handful of grit/sand or fine bark, and a handful of good topsoil). Secure the baby in place with a bent wire, and leave the baby plant attached until roots are well established, then cut it free and grow on.

How long do strawberry plants last

With good care, strawberry plants remain productive for around four to five years. After that, yields naturally decline.

A simple system is to replace the oldest plants each year with your own runners. Over time, this creates a patch of strawberries that are well adapted to your garden’s microclimate.

Ongoing maintenance that improves fruiting

Regular tidying keeps plants focused on producing fruit. Remove yellowing or damaged leaves, thin dense foliage to improve airflow, and remove misshapen fruit so energy goes into better berries. This isn’t about perfection, just gentle, regular attention.

Mulching and keeping fruit clean

Keeping fruit off bare soil is essential for reducing rot and pest problems. Pine needles are an excellent mulch for strawberries. They drain well, help maintain a slightly acidic soil, and keep berries clean. Straw or fine bark mulch also works well.

Don’t waste the extras

Any berries that slip past perfect can go straight into the freezer. Once you’ve got enough, they’re ready for jam, compote, or smoothies.

Strawberries reward consistency more than intensity. When water, nutrition, and maintenance are steady, plants keep flowering, fruiting, and giving right through summer - no fancy inputs required.