Proper spacing is the most important factor for maximizing strawberry yield and ensuring long-term plant health. Correctly positioning each plant promotes robust air circulation, which helps foliage dry quickly after rain or irrigation, reducing the risk of fungal diseases like gray mold or leaf spot. Adequate distance between plants minimizes competition for soil nutrients and sunlight, allowing each crown to develop fully and produce larger, higher-quality fruit. The ideal spacing depends on the cultivar’s growth habit and the specific planting system employed.
Spacing for the Matted Row System
The matted row system is used for Junebearing strawberry varieties because these cultivars are aggressive producers of runners, which develop new plantlets. The goal of this system is to allow the runners to root and form a continuous, dense bed of plants, rather than maintaining individual plants. Initial spacing involves setting the original “mother” plants 18 to 24 inches apart within the row. This distance gives them room to establish before the runners begin to spread.
The primary consideration in this method is the distance between the rows, which must allow for maintenance and access. Rows are spaced 3 to 4 feet apart, providing clear aisles for walking and cultivation. During the first growing season, mother plants send out numerous runners that are encouraged to root within a defined area. The objective is to create a matted row that is between 12 and 18 inches wide by the end of the season.
If the matted row grows wider than 18 inches, the plants in the center become overcrowded, leading to smaller berries and reduced air circulation. The dense canopy traps humidity, creating a favorable environment for pathogens to thrive. This system relies on the continuous production of new daughter plants from runners to refresh the patch over several years. Therefore, annual renovation is required to narrow the bed width and thin out the oldest, least productive mother crowns.
Spacing for the Hill System
The hill system focuses the plant’s energy into maximizing the production of a single, isolated crown. This method is preferred for Day Neutral and Everbearing strawberry varieties, which naturally produce fewer runners than Junebearers. The core requirement of this system is the complete and constant removal of all runners to prevent the plant from diverting resources away from fruit production.
Plants are spaced much closer together in the hill system, set 12 to 15 inches apart within the row. This tighter spacing capitalizes on the non-spreading nature of the cultivars used. For beds containing multiple rows, the rows themselves are spaced 12 to 15 inches apart. These are often planted in staggered double or triple rows.
The aisles between these multi-row beds must still be wide enough for access and air movement, generally kept between 2 to 3 feet wide. Maintaining this precise geometry is important because each plant needs distinct space to develop a large, multi-crowned structure. Because the plants are kept isolated, plastic mulch is often used to suppress weeds and maintain soil temperature, which is not possible in the matted row system.
High-Density and Container Spacing
For gardeners utilizing raised beds, containers, or vertical systems, spacing must be adjusted to maximize limited space while ensuring good air movement. In a standard raised bed, plants are spaced about 12 inches apart in all directions, regardless of the variety. This uniform spacing allows for unrestricted growth and simplifies maintenance within the confined area of the bed.
Container gardening requires precise spacing based on the vessel’s size, since strawberries are relatively shallow-rooted. A standard container with a diameter of 10 to 12 inches is best suited for holding one to two plants. Larger containers, such as 5-gallon buckets or 14-inch planters, can accommodate three to four plants.
The plants should be spaced approximately 8 to 12 inches apart within the container to prevent leaf overlap and improve air circulation around the crown. For vertical towers or stackable planters, the spacing rule simplifies to ensuring that the leaves of one plant do not touch the leaves of the adjacent plant. This prevents shading and helps keep the foliage dry, which is a major defense against disease.
Maintaining Optimal Spacing Through Runner Management
Initial planting distances only establish the foundation; long-term success depends on actively managing the runners that all strawberry plants produce. In the matted row system, the gardener must monitor the bed width to ensure it does not exceed the optimal 12 to 18 inches. Runners that extend into the aisle or cause overcrowding within the established bed must be physically removed or redirected.
By contrast, the hill system requires the immediate and constant removal of every runner the mother plant produces throughout the growing season. Each runner represents a diversion of energy that would otherwise be channeled into the original plant’s crown development and fruit production. Prompt removal of the runners maintains the integrity of the isolated plants, ensuring the harvest consists of the largest possible berries.