Strawberries

[andy]

I'm now the proud owner of 36 strawberry plants growing in my little patch. However, some of them are in full flower and some have even set fruit, all be it small fruits.

Should i be removing the flowers now or leave them on. I'm not sure of the varieties...cambridge favourite eas one, symphony was another, Elsanta was another and i can't remember the last.

Thanks in advance

[Barbara]

I only take the smallest off, I leave the biggest to get big strawberrys. ;D

[Rosefriend]

Oh blimey - I didn't know that you had to take the flowers off - when then and why...to get larger strawberries??

RF

[Barbara]

Just nip out the smaller buds RF, usually you will find about 3 together, I just leave the largest on. and if they have already set fruit just nip off the littlest.

But you dont have to, some people like little ones.

[Rosefriend]

Will do Barbara - thanks for the tip.

Oh yes, something else. I was told that strawberries are only good for 3 years - 1st year you don't get much fruit, 2nd year loads (I hope) and then 3rd Year you have to let them make new plants and start all over again...really??

RF

[Barbara]

Let them make new runners, and peg them in, when they have made a root, I dont throw mine out untill they stop producing, but you have to watch for white fly on old plants thats why people throw them I think they say once the fly has found them you can't get rid.

[Rosefriend]

Ok Barbara thanks a lot.

RF

[andy]

Sorry folks...the question was a bit misleading. i was just wonderin g if the plants were putting out flowers too early and i should take them off in order for the flowers to appear at a more "normal" ( ) time

[Barbara]

Right Andy, this is what Percy said. ''if the plants are covered they will produce fruits in May, the perpetual fruiting types flower continuosly from May onwards giving good sized fruits in Autumn.'' so you can leave the flowers on now, protect from frost for early fruit.

[Ladygardener]

I've got several plants producing runners this year. What exactly do I do with them as I'd like to grow them on into new plants as my strawberries are a few years old now

[Jasmine]

Found this info LG.

'For best results select a good healthy, vigorously growing parent plant. This plant should have put out many runners. Select four runners that show the most promising root and leaf growth. Carefully extend them from the plant and pinch all the other runners out. If there is more than one plantlet on a runner, pinch out those farthest from the parent plant, leaving the nearest one remaining.

In order to move each new plant to a new home it is best to root them into individual pots first; 75 cm (3 in.) pots are ideal. Propagate each runner in the same way. Fill the pot with John Innes Potting Compost No.1 or an equal mixture of peat and sand, and firm it down. Dig a hole, not too close to the parent plant but within the length of the selected runner, to take the pot. Bury the pot up to its rim. Place the runner on top of the compost in the pot, and hold it in place with a stone, or pin it down wth a U-shaped length of wire. Keep it well watered.'

[Ladygardener]

Thanks very much Jasmine, I must give it a go.

[carolann]

Some of my plants are very old maybe 10 yrs + and still going strong so I leave them well alone till they stop producing fruit. As for the runners I was told to only plant/peg the first young plant on the runner and only do 2 from each plant. At themoment I am going round cutting off the first of the runners to give the fruit some chance after I have picked the first of the fruits then I start planting the runners but make sure they have taken before cutting from the main plant.

[Ladygardener]

Good advice Carolann, the thing is too that the parent plants don't have much sign of flowers on them. I wonder should I cut all the runners off at this stage and plant up later ones instead. I would like to get fruit this year, last year was hopeless.

[Barbara]

Do you know which type of strawberry you have LG .

[Ladygardener]

Yes Barbara it's one from B&Q about 3 years or more old called Loran or Loran. I tried to look it up but could'nt find it. When I did get fruit from them it was late summer but I put that down to the bad weather over here. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/undecided.gif

[Barbara]

Maybe they should be earlies and they got frost on them and the late fruits were a second show.

[andy]

Does anyone grow strawbs in containers ? I love the things so much that i'm thinking of setting up a couple of troughs with them in.

Oh...and just picked my first one out of the garden today ;D

[Jasmine]

Me too. Should have saved it for one of the boys but didn't
It was just scrummy.

[Rosefriend]

Sure do andy - all my Veg is in containers...



The blackbirds are already having a look - hence the netting!!

RF

[Barbara]

I grow them in pots and buckets Andy, we've just had strawberrys and ice cream after out T, sorry LG, they were delicious too.

[andy]

Jun 11, 2010 15:06:43 GMT Jasmine said:

Me too. Should have saved it for one of the boys but didn't
It was just scrummy.

That's awful. I've saved mine for my daughter

[Jasmine]

Now I feel even worse
Still, which one would I have given it to? Don't want to be causing a fight ;D

[Barbara]

Bad mothers get on my wick. ;D

[Jasmine]

I know - it's appalling. These mothers wot put themselves first ;D

[andy]

Jun 11, 2010 18:24:22 GMT Jasmine said:

I know - it's appalling. These mothers wot put themselves first ;D

[Jasmine]

I was going to go and beat myself for being such a useless mother.

You get father of the day though Andy ;D

[andy]

Jun 11, 2010 18:58:32 GMT Jasmine said:

I was going to go and beat myself for being such a useless mother.

You get father of the day though Andy ;D

[Jasmine]

That's the little smiley I was looking for - the halo is a perfect fit ;D

[carolann]

Picked 3 yesterday and they where beautiful there are lots more to come if only the sun would shine for longer