Premium Strawberry
& Raspberry Plants
Where traditional farming meets modern innovation. Frank Caltieri brings decades of expertise and cutting-edge tissue culture techniques to grow superior quality plants for Australia's best growers.
About Us
Who We Are
Hydroberry Plants is a third-generation family-owned nursery based in Yarravalley, Victoria. For 15 years, we've been producing premium rubus (raspberry) plants for Australian commercial growers, and over the past 5 years, we've expanded into strawberry plug plant production.
What started as a solution for our own farming operation has grown into a trusted supply partnership with berry growers across Australia. We identified a need in the industry for quality rubus plants, and our commitment to excellence has made us a go-to supplier for commercial operations nationwide.
Our Approach
Operating from our 16-acre nursery in Victoria's Yarra Valley, we specialize exclusively in plug plant production. Our family team brings three decades of hands-on berry industry experience to every plant we grow, ensuring you receive healthy, robust plants that establish quickly and perform reliably.
As an ASPAA-accredited nursery, we maintain strict biosecurity protocols and quality standards throughout our production process. Every plant that leaves our nursery meets the high benchmarks expected by commercial growers.
What Sets Us Apart
- 30 years of berry industry expertise
- Third-generation family farming knowledge
- 16-acre dedicated nursery facility in Victoria's Yarra Valley
- ASPAA accredited for quality assurance
- Australia-wide supply capability
- Plug plants only – our specialty, our focus
- Family-owned and operated – your success is our reputation
Quality Assurance
Hydroberry Plants is accredited by both ASPAA (Australian Strawberry Propagators Accreditation Authority) and NIASA (Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia, accredited July 2025). These dual accreditations ensure we supply true-to-type, disease-free, healthy plug plants that, when planted and managed properly, will produce timely and economic quantities of marketable fruit.
Our ASPAA certification means every batch of plug plants is produced under independently audited protocols and meets rigorous quality standards. Plants meeting these standards can be sold as Certified Strawberry Plants you can be confident will be free of pests, fungi, viruses, weeds and parasitic nematodes.
ASPAA Certified Plug Plant Standards
Every plug plant we supply meets these certified standards:
- Good growth with well-developed root systems visible throughout the growing media cell
- Well-established green tops with 2-3 healthy leaves
- Roots that are not dead or discoloured
- 90% of plants coming freely from their cells
- 95% of cells containing a plant
Combined with our NIASA certification, you can be confident that every plant leaving our Victorian nursery has been produced under Australia's most rigorous quality assurance programs, giving you the healthy, vigorous plants your commercial operation demands.
NIASA Accredited Nursery
Accredited July 2025
ASPAA Certified
Certified Strawberry Plants
Our Business
Hydroberry Plants specializes exclusively in plug plant production for commercial berry growers. We produce both strawberry and raspberry (rubus) plug plants from our 16-acre nursery in Victoria's Yarra Valley, supplying commercial operations across Australia.
With 15 years of experience in rubus plant production and 5 years in strawberries, we've refined our processes to deliver consistently healthy, vigorous plug plants that establish quickly and perform reliably in commercial production systems.
Why Plug Plants?
Plug plants are containerized plants that arrive already rooted and actively growing in an inert growing media. This gives them significant advantages over traditional bare-root plants, especially for modern substrate and tabletop production systems.
Benefits of Our Plug Plants
- Established root systems: Plants arrive with active, growing roots visible throughout the cell
- Reduced transplant shock: Minimal stress during planting leads to better establishment rates
- Faster establishment: Plants hit the ground running with no dormancy period
- Versatile planting: Suitable for both substrate systems and soil-based production
- Lower water requirements: Little to no overhead watering needed at planting time
- Better uniformity: Consistent plant size and quality across your entire crop
- Year-round flexibility: More planting window options compared to bare-root
Our Plug Plant Specifications
All our plug plants are grown for approximately 6 weeks in controlled conditions before dispatch, ensuring you receive plants with:
Root Development
Well-developed root systems visible throughout the growing media, ensuring strong establishment when transplanted into your production system.
Top Growth
Healthy, well-established green tops with 2-3 vigorous leaves, ready for immediate growth upon transplanting.
All plug plants meet ASPAA certification standards for commercial strawberry and raspberry production.
Supporting Australia's Berry Industry
As Australia's berry production continues to evolve—with more growers investing in tabletop, substrate, and protected cropping systems—plug plants have become the preferred planting material for modern commercial operations.
We're committed to supporting this growth by supplying high-quality, certified plug plants that help commercial growers achieve consistent yields, better plant health, and improved production efficiency across all growing systems.
Research Focus
We continuously evaluate new varieties and growing techniques to optimize plant health, establishment rates, and commercial performance. By staying current with industry research and testing innovations in propagation methods, we ensure our plug plants deliver the vigor and consistency that commercial growers demand.
Our commitment to quality extends globally. We regularly collaborate with international breeding programs to evaluate new and emerging cultivars. Through on-farm trials at our Victorian nursery, we assess each variety's adaptability to Australian growing conditions—testing performance across different climate zones, production systems, and seasonal variables—before recommending them to commercial growers.
Disease Resistance
Developing varieties with natural resistance to common Australian plant diseases
Climate Adaptation
Varieties suited to Australia's diverse climate zones and growing conditions
Yield Optimization
Higher yields and extended harvest windows for commercial viability
Our Premium Varieties
Through our ongoing evaluation and testing program, we've selected a range of strawberry and raspberry varieties that consistently deliver strong performance in Australian commercial production. Each variety has been chosen for its proven reliability, disease tolerance, and commercial viability across different growing systems and climate zones.
Strawberry Varieties
Blush (White Strawberry)
SpecialtyDistinctive white flesh with a pale pink blush and aromatic sweetness. A premium novelty line that stands out on shelf; best handled with care for top presentation.
White Strawberry (Working Name)
SpecialtyOur unnamed white selection showcasing delicate perfume, pale skin and red achenes. Ideal for boutique punnets and chef-led applications. Name TBC.
Sundrench (Red Strawberry)
SubtropicalAustralian-bred for consistent yields and excellent eating quality under warm-winter conditions. Produces attractive, market-ready fruit with a deep red exterior across the main picking window.
APG 003 (Trial Only)
New Release / TrialsNew selection available via licensed propagators. Bred for balanced plant health and packout; currently in on-farm evaluations with promising performance.
QSGA 130 (Trial Only)
Pre-CommercialLimited-release selection under test with growers. Early feedback highlights solid fruit quality and harvest speed. Non-propagation terms apply.
Raspberry Varieties
HBP 176
High-ChillSelection suited to cooler districts (Tasmania and Victoria). Best performance where winter chill is reliable; delivers firm fruit and tidy drupes under managed canopy.
Noelia
Primocane / Low-Chill FriendlyEarly, productive primocane type with bright red, conical berries and good shelf life. Well-suited to warm-winter production windows (e.g., Queensland winter plantings).
Amalia Rosa (Coming Soon)
PrimocaneLarge, light-red fruit with strong plant vigour and fast picking speed. Extended primocane season and very good shelf life. Coming soon to our program.
Ordering & Supply
Hydroberry Plants supplies plug plants exclusively to commercial berry growers Australia-wide. All plants are grown to order with approximately 6 weeks production time. All pricing is quote-based. Payment terms, deposits, and delivery arrangements confirmed at time of order.
How to Order
- Contact us with your requirements (varieties, quantities, delivery timing and location)
- Receive a quote with pricing, availability, and delivery details
- Confirm your order and provide required information
- Receive your plants according to the agreed schedule
All pricing is quote-based. Payment terms, deposits, and delivery arrangements confirmed at time of order.
Get In Touch
Ready to grow something exceptional? Contact us for wholesale enquiries, plant availability, and expert growing advice.
Send Us a Message
Business Information
Hydro Berry Plants Pty Ltd
ABN: 38 609 304 190
GST Registered: 2 May 2016
Frank Caltieri
Principal & Grower
Email:
Response Time
We typically respond to enquiries within 1-2 business days.