Grow Your Own Magazine

I have just bought some strawberry plants at an allotment open day, and would like to know if I can plant them in my flower bed? I have some large flowering plants, but quite a lot of earth between them which needs some kind of ground cover to reduce my weeding load, if nothing else! I'd love to put the strawberries there, but thought perhaps they might take over, or fight for the nutrients? Do they need to be in a patch of their own? I'm very much a beginner gardener, and would be grateful for any and all advice.

I grew strawberries for the first time this year (so I am no expert), I would say yes put them in this area.
The strawberries will give off runners which you can control and plant out the new plants where you like, so this will control them getting to over run.

If i were you i would plant them up in pots until the winter is over. If you have'nt got a greenhouse put them somewhere sheltered and plant out when winter is over. Good luck whatever you decide.

CarolineW
I have grown them amongst flowers very successfully. You just need to make sure they get a decent amount of light to ripen the fruit, and encourage growth in the spring. I started mine off at the front of the border , but they did spread quite a lot, so just need thinning by transplanting on the strongest runners.
I would forget to water if I left them indoors this winter and would kill them somehow I believe in survival of the fittest and would plant them out now!!
Must say they look a bit dead in the winter,but if you don't mind that then great idea. A photo next year would be interesting to see how they are doing!

Hi Caroline, I am glad people are still going to allotment open days. I think the other two replys have anwered your question so I don't need to say anymore
Will these be your first crop ??

Dear all,
thank you for your input. I have to admit that I think they would die if I left them somewhere over winter, to be honest. I'm not very good at remembering things. So I'll leave them to take their chances, as recommended, in the flower bed. I have heard that it's a good idea to put straw around them to help the roots to stay warm? So I'll probably do that. Plus it's a south facing border with little to no shade.

Yes, these will be my first strawberries! I'll try to remember to take a photo next year when they're in fruit, if they survive :-)

Thanks again, everyone. I really appreciate your help.

Caroline