Rows. Doesn't matter too much to the strawberries, but slugs and snails just LOVE strawberries, and it helps if you can work through them, picking them over and seeing what's where and where you've been.
16" would be ok. We put them about 12" apart. They need to be kept grass and weed free which can be a chore sometimes. Place the new runners they put out down the rows so the rows don't get too wide to reach across to pick the berries next year.
Setting out a new patch every year makes it easier to keep ahead of the grass and weeds if you don't use herbicides.
This isn't the greatest picture, but I've started my new strawberry bed using a raised bed planting via the square foot method. Mine are spaced one per square foot. I intend to pot my runners and sell them, or keep as needed for replacements. I'm going to add a 2nd bed for the replacements.
A forum community dedicated to living sustainably and self sufficiently. Come join the discussion about livestock, farming, gardening, DIY projects, hobbies, recipes, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!