Rethinking Strawberry Planting Dates in New Zealand: When Is the Best Time to Plant?

For many years, we always planted strawberries in May–June in New Zealand. However, we at Bert’s Berry Farm like to open up discussions on rethinking strawberry planting dates and have suggested alternative times could be beneficial. This planting time had two main reasons.

Why We Used to Plant in May–June

• Bare-rooted plants
  In the past, we all used bare-rooted plants. These were lifted in May–June from the soil by the time the propagator had maximized the number of plants he could produce, or when bad weather was forecast. Growers needed to lift plants before heavy rain arrived to avoid rot and damage.
• Field preparation
  At the same time, growers needed to prepare the strawberry fields. This meant making raised ridges (or beds) before the wet winter started. Raised beds ensured that roots wouldn’t stay in wet soil during winter and made picking easier. If this was delayed, the risk of planting late or losing plants to rot increased.

The Missing Piece: When Do You Want Production?

What’s often missing from this story is a simple but powerful question:

“When do you actually want to harvest your strawberries?” Could it be time for rethinking strawberry planting dates?

This question determines your entire planting and production plan. The answer can vary a lot depending on whether you grow in the North Island or South Island, further north or south, and whether you are producing under tunnels or in greenhouses.

Why May–June Planting Might Not Be the Best Choice

Strawberry plants need naturally short days and cold winters to prepare for the next season and to produce the best-quality fruit. In New Zealand, winters are relatively mild, some exception in the South Island, but it is often too warm to provide enough chill hours, making rethinking strawberry planting dates crucial.

Some growers tried to mimic winter by storing plants in cool rooms, but this often failed. The big wooden boxes where plants were stored frequently stayed too warm, causing the plants to rot. As a result, many growers have given up on chilling altogether, even if they don’t fully understand the reason behind it. Over time, this has become “just the way we do it,” creating a story that no longer fits today’s reality of rethinking strawberry planting dates.

The Future: Flexible and Strategic Planting

In my opinion, within about five years, we’ll see planting times spread across the entire year.

Especially for covered crops grown in tunnels and greenhouses, growers are already experimenting with different planting times to match their ideal production windows and market prices. This shift is part of the broader strategy of rethinking strawberry planting dates.

Can We Really Have Early Production in New Zealand?

Many growers think they must plant early to get early production. But is this really necessary?

In spring, mornings are often too cold for proper fruit coloring. You may see berries developing, but only the tip begins to change color.

Furthermore, summers are often too hot inside tunnel houses, which can reduce flower formation and decrease fruit size and quality. High night temperatures in summer use up a lot of plant energy. For strawberries (and many other crops), these high night temperatures are major stress factors.

Rethinking Flush Timing

Strawberry plants typically produce one big flush, followed by a small gap, then a second smaller flush. After that, they continue producing, but in lower numbers and with smaller fruit.

Ask yourself:

• Would it be better to have your first or second flush in a different part of the year? Could this be what rethinking strawberry planting dates is about?
• Could you target a period when prices are higher and consumers are more eager for berries?

The traditional answer “as early as possible” is often given without real thought. But is it truly the best strategy?

In today’s market, consumers are getting more used to having strawberries available after summer holidays and into late autumn. This shift creates new opportunities for growers to plan production differently.

Managing Summer Stress

One strategy to maintain strong, healthy plants is to remove some trusses just before Christmas. By reducing fruit load during the hottest period, the plant doesn’t need to spend energy on producing fruit when nights are too warm.

This helps keep plants strong and ready to produce higher-quality, larger berries once temperatures become more favorable again.

A Changing Industry Needs a New Mindset

Times are changing faster than many expect in the strawberry world. New technologies, consumer trends, and covered cropping systems are all influencing how we should plan planting and production.

At Bert’s Berry Farm, we believe it’s essential to stay open-minded and flexible. Thinking strategically about planting dates and production timing allows you to achieve higher yields, better fruit quality, and stronger market positions, all while reducing unnecessary stress on your plants.

Let’s Explore the Best Strategy for You

I can’t answer this question for you, only you can decide what is best for your business. But I can help you think it through and explore new options.

Ask yourself today: “When do I really want my strawberries on the market?”

This answer might surprise you and open up new opportunities to optimise your entire growing plan.

If you’d like to discuss what this could look like for your farm, I’d be happy to talk it through with you.

👉 Contact us today let’s design your future strawberry success together.