Nine To Noon Growing strawberries near Wanaka? They said it couldn't be done
Mar 1, 2026
Bex Trotter, owner of Redbridge Berries near Wanaka and mum of four, left corporate life to plant 30,000 strawberries and start a hydroponic herb business. She talks about proving locals wrong, adapting to Central Otago’s climate, battling birds and pests, scaling planting and labour, seasonal timing shifts, and expanding the farm alongside family life.
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Risking Everything On A 30,000 Plant Trial
- Bex Trotter and Ben planted a 30,000 strawberry patch in their first season to prove locals wrong who said strawberries wouldn't grow in Wanaka.
- They trialled plants in their home garden, researched through winter and relied on hands-on learning and mistakes to scale up quickly.
Cold Winters Can Be A Strawberry Advantage
- Cold winters in Central Otago benefit strawberries by promoting fruiting and reducing insect and disease pressure.
- Locals assumed cold was a problem, but Bex found cold actually helps plant performance compared with warmer, humid climates.
Prep Rows Carefully And Iterate Every Season
- Prepare seedbeds and lay rows correctly and expect to revise methods each season.
- Bex emphasises learning from mistakes annually and adapting planting techniques rather than expecting instant perfection.