Grow Your Own Magazine

I have a hanging basket full of strawberry plants in my greenhouse. Just looked at it carefully today and there are masses of flowers. Isn't this a bit early? I'm in Surrey, the greenhouse is in the sunniest part of the garden and I have a heater that comes on if the temperature falls below freezing.
Jools

ooh lucky you!

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Yo an' Bob
Walk lightly on the earth
take only what you need
give all you can
and your produce will be bountifull

Yummy!!

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

You think it's early for you, have some in a tub in the greenhouse also with buds forming up here - they were some new runners from a friend last year so have no idea what type they are but am guessing they must be earlies! Had them inside to get them a bit early but this could be a record! Will be busy with a paintbrush in a few weeks time.

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

When I was sorting out my strawberry bed yesterday I noticed that a few of the earlies, especially those a bit older, are 'hearting up' and have small dense clumps of flowers in the centres.

Warm, straight off the plant for my brekkie - here they come!

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TonyF, Dordogne 24220

Brill Jools !
Do make sure that the insects can get in to pollinate, otherwise you won't get any fruit!!
I'd be temped to set to with a fine paintbrush or piece of cotton wool to ensure an early crop of juicy berries ( yum yum!)

If I leave the doors open during the day (there are 4 vents that open automatically) will that be enough? Otherwise, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing witht he paintbrush....do I just dab from one flower to the other?
Jools

Basically, yes! Dab gently into flower #1, then flower #2 and so on remembering to go back to flower#1 at the end. This should disribute the pollen around all the flowers. Be gentle as while you want the pollen in there you obviously don't want to damage the flower! Be especially careful not to damage the stems.

Having said all that, strawbs are fairly tough so gentle doesn't have to be fairy footed - just as well for me, I can be very heavy handed!

I've even managed to get it to work by simply dabbing my finger in one then the other when I've not been able to find my brush (I realise that this is probably strawberry abuse but hey they didn't seem to mind!!!!!) so they must be pretty sturdy!

__________________

Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

wow, very interesting about pollinating the strawbs.

I've got flowers on my alpine strawberry plants which are just in a border in the shade in my garden. I was quite surprised when I noticed them today as I only put them in a couple of weeks ago as tiny little plants.

I'm sure it is early Jools, but just enjoy the early srrawberries.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have been really busy over the last few weeks so I have just been doing "maintenance" work in the greenhouse and I haven't been able to get on here very often. But I shall be in the greenhouse later on with my paintbrush. I'm going to get my little ones (4 year old twins) planting some seeds too. Oh happy days!

iv got alpine strawbs that have been in flower most of the winter! the fruit didnt ripen in fairness but still .they have loads of flowers now as do my wild strawbs

I have been hanging my basket with the stawbs in outside during the day - there are already lots of fruits forming. Yippeee!
Jools

I've got flowers on the strawberry plants on the allotment - must be a record. Just hope I can beat the blackbirds to the fruit this year.

I have found that a lot of my plants have started early this year including the early variety strawberries I have. Strawberries seem pretty hardy (as I've been growing them for 5 years) and even though they're early they'll still be perfectly fine. If you have an early breed that would be part of the reason but the early heat waves we've been having this year have really made plants come on quickly. Enjoy the strawberries that follow.

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Look not from the mind, but from the soul. For the life that is coming is already before us, waiting to open up the world. Just look more closely. Find the eyes to see. - Celestine Prophecy 1st insight

Visit my blog: http://wheatleyswheels.blogspot.com

Some of my strawberry plants on the lottie are starting to flower, so I've got my fleece ready for the cold snap which is bound to follow soon!!!

mine too nicos, loads of flowers on mine at the lottie just waiting for a frost to spoil them

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The love of gardening is a seed once sown never dies ...

My garden doesn't get all day sun only partial sun because of this I have found my flowers come out later than everyone elses. Dispite this I have found the first 2 flowers on my early variety strawberries today... just hope we dont get any more frost this year but I have material to cover them just in case.

__________________
Look not from the mind, but from the soul. For the life that is coming is already before us, waiting to open up the world. Just look more closely. Find the eyes to see. - Celestine Prophecy 1st insight

Visit my blog: http://wheatleyswheels.blogspot.com

got my first flower too, yipee, cant wait for raspberrys.

__________________
Yo an' Bob
Walk lightly on the earth
take only what you need
give all you can
and your produce will be bountifull

Noticed a few flowers on my strawberry patch yesterday, I guess i should get hold of some straw and wire netting now!