Life of a planting
Most growers keep their strawberry plants for only one season, because fruit size falls in the second year and disease and management problems increase. Some growers cut plants back at the end of the first season to allow one early flush in about March of the following year.
Varieties
New varieties of strawberries are released every year. Widely planted varieties for the Perth region are Camarosa, Festival and Albion and for the south of the state, Albion and San Andreas.
Planting material
Strawberries can be affected by virus diseases which seriously reduce the vigour of the plants, resulting in lower yields. Certified strawberry runner schemes operate in Victoria and Queensland to supply virus-free planting material. Grower-members of these schemes produce planting material of acceptable standards under Government supervision. Growers should obtain certified planting material from these sources. Certified runners are available from Victoria and Queensland.
Runners should be ordered well in advance of requirements (generally a year ahead), since supplies can be short.
- Toolangi Certified Strawberry Runner Growers' Association
C/- Post Office
Toolangi Victoria 3777
Phone: +61 (0)3 5962 9220
Fax: +61 (0)3 5962 9416 - Perry Runners
PMB No 4
1826 Healesville-Kinglake Rd
Toolangi Vic 3777
Phone: +61 (0)3 5962 9429
Fax: +61 (0)3 5962 9428
e.s.kperry@bigpond.com - Sweets Strawberry Runners
846 Nundubbermere Road
Stanthorpe Queensland 4380
Phone: 07 4683 6209
office@sweetstrawberryrunners.com.au - Red Jewel Nursery
744 Emu Swamp Rd
Ballandean Qld 4382
Phone: Ian Mungall: +61 (0)427 584 655
Elise Pike: +61 (0)429 841 133
Office: +61 (0)7 4684 1133
Fax: +61 (0)7 4684 1186
Driscolls, who operate a closed loop marketing system using their own varieties, also have a network of growers in Australia.