Too late for Strawberries

[Deleted]

I was very disappointed to find out I should of planted strawberry plants last month if I wanted a crop for next year, as we've had such a mild October do you think I could get a few planted now or would that just be a waste?

[Plocket]

I would give it a go Trunkyjo and get them under glass or plastic asap - it must be worth a try at least. Were you going to grow them in the ground or in containers?

[Deleted]

I was going to put them in a "fruit bed" that already exists - seems to be full of Gooseberry bushes at the moment. Could I start with containers in the greenhouse (unheated) and then move them to the bed in Spring?

[Plocket]

I think that would be the best idea. You'll need to use reasonable sized pots, not seedling pots, so that they can establish a root system. I'm not a strawberry expert but mine from this year are staying outside in their huge pot, and I'll put a cloche over them when the weather starts to really cool down. While they are actually growing you should feed your strawberries because they are hungry plants, but don't over-water them over winter. The main thing is to get the plants established before the winter, and having them in the greenhouse (even an unheated one) will give them a bit more of an advantage than if you planted them out now a month later than recommended.

[Deleted]

Hi trunkyjo
I agree with plocket its best not to plant out young plants from Nov to late Feb as they may be damaged by frost.
If you are going to pot them up use a mixture of 1 part perlite to 3 parts soil based compost, if you haven't got perlite you could break up some bits of polystyrene and use that.
Hope this helps

Karenwl

[Deleted]

Thank you, I will try that. I have no idea what perlite is though, thank the heavens for the web a

[Spruance]

trunkyjo said:

Thank you, I will try that. I have no idea what perlite is though, thank the heavens for the web a

Perlite is a very lightweight, low density volcanic rock. Appearance-wise it resembles white salt crystals.....



You can buy it from your local Garden Centre, or from the likes of Wilkinsons, B&Q and Homebase etc.

It is best used, mixed into the growing medium, for plants that require an open free draining soil.

[Deleted]

Just right after they have fruited (then you get a 2nd crop from early ones) or about now if they are alpine (or marketed as perpetual). Cut back really hard to the height a lawn mower would (it looks awful but has to be done). If you think "I'm too late" you probably are but still cut 'em right back, especially in your mild climate.

[4pygmies]

Do you know, I think you probably could plant them now if you cloche them, and cut them back too, as advised above. I used to nurture my strawberries but this summer I was so busy with other things in the garden they were completely neglected and we had the most amazing crop. They weren't even in the sun but shoved in tubs under my apple trees. I checked them yesterday after reading this thread and I have loads of rooted runners in the lawn for next year! They seem to have thrived on my neglect... ...wonder what that says about my gardening skills??

[oldmoleskins]

I know this is technically off-topic, but since so much good advice has already been given on the straws, I'll risk it:

last night at a neighbour's house we had fresh raspberries - apparently they're still in full production and always are at this time of year, a true late variety.

As is traditional in these circumstances, the name could not be remembered. The best I could get was there is a connection with Kent (sounds likely) and they've had them 'years', thriving on neglect.

Can anyone suggest a reliable late cropping raspberry variety with a 'Kent' connection? I'm hoping for some neighbourly spare canes (would buy some if absolutely neccessary) and either way would still like to know what these might be...

OM.

late ps....ok, Hessayon tells me that there are several with the prefix "Malling" (Kent) - but none listed are particularly late maturing - in fact most claim "early" as a plus-point... so maybe it's an obscure Malling... any ideas anyone?

[Deleted]

OMS - The only one later cropping Kentish variety I can think of that's been around a while is Malling Admiral. But I always thought by August Bank Hols it was finished.....

[Plocket]

There certainly are late fruiting "autumn" raspberries because my M&D have some and there are still some fruits coming. Unfortunately though I don't know the variety - they were just sold as autumn raspberries. I'd be interested to know whether they can be split or cuttings taken - does anyone know?

[sleepysunday]

I used to grow autumn fruiting raspberries on my allotment - Autumn Bliss if I remember correctly:

Here are a few:

www.garden-marketplace.co.uk/fruit-bushes/raspberry-canes-autumn.html

[Deleted]

I looked at the summer raspberry canes, pruned and ready for next year, just now, in case they needed tying in again & they have tight flower buds on them, all except two canes in the whole bed, what do you think, cut them out again? ignore the buds & hope they will drop off? the hanging basket strawberries I grew from seed this year ready for next years fruiting are in flower & fruit, they dont get very sweet though. I have hung them in the sunny site near the door so I expect it is quite warm there.