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Strawberries - what have/am I doing wrong?

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  • #1

    Strawberries - what have/am I doing wrong?

    I see loads of pictures on Facebook of friends and family with bowls of strawberries which seem to replenish loads throughout summer.

    Yet from 12 Cambridge favourite plants I've barely scraped 1/2 a bowl all summer, and in fact for the last 3 years running.

    They're fed, they're watered, they're in a nice sunny spot, they're pest free.

    So what am I doing wrong? Plants seem to have given up now for this season :'(
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Are they the same 12 plants that you've had for 3 years? If so they're exhausted!
    Do you let the runners grow into new plants each year?

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    • #3
      They're 3 this year, and I was to replace next year.

      Try to cut the runners off ASAP as knows this stunts them

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      • #4
        If you want the same variety and you are going to get rid of the old plants then you would save some money by letting some runners root into trays or small pots ready to replant for next year. If possible it would be better if the new strawberries went into a different place than before to avoid any diseases that may have built up.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by gadgetman View Post
          Try to cut the runners off ASAP as knows this stunts them
          No it doesn't. Runners are the plant's natural way of reproducing.

          Cutting runners off in a plant's first year can make sense, so it can get established properly. Thereafter it makes sense to let a few runners root to provide new plants.

          The only reason I cut mine off is that if you don't you end up with a tangled mess of plants.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by gadgetman View Post
            I've barely scraped 1/2 a bowl all summer, and in fact for the last 3 years running.
            That's not right.
            Can you put a photo up, of the plants close up, and of the position they're in. It will give us some more info to go on
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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            • #7
              Are they in the ground or in pots (I've always got several times as many from the ones in the ground) and how closely planted. I have three lots of strawbrerries, a dozen of each first year, second year and third year, replacing the third year ones every year. I only take enough runners off to replace the ones I'm taking out and nip the other off as I don't want more and I don't want them to use energy producing more than I need. I tend to find that the first year ones produce a few punnets full but the second and third year ones produce pounds and pounds. Already have enough ready chopped in the freezer to make three lots of jam (waiting for it to cool down so I don't die of heat exhaustion in the kitchen making jam!) and we've eaten loads too so you should still get a decent amount off your plants so something is definitely not right.

              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?

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              • #8
                10 reason why they don't produce fruit:
                Strawberry Plants Producing Runners but no Strawberries? | Strawberry Plants .org

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by rustylady View Post
                  No it doesn't. Runners are the plant's natural way of reproducing.

                  Thanks everyone.

                  Cutting runners off in a plant's first year can make sense, so it can get established properly. Thereafter it makes sense to let a few runners root to provide new plants.

                  The only reason I cut mine off is that if you don't you end up with a tangled mess of plants.
                  Looks like I best get collecting the runners.

                  Plants are in 2x ceramic planters (although would like to replace with stackable 3 plant plastic ones if anyone knows where sells them) which get shade in the morning but full sun for the rest of the day. The alternative is sun from about 10 but shade from 3.

                  Looks like a complete clear out of the planters. Should I populate them now, or leave plants in pots over winter?


                  Am fine with the veg, just strawberry growing that has me stumped.

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                  • #10
                    Do you not have any open ground you can plant your strawberries in? I find they never do well in planters.

                    Pictures would still help.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by rustylady View Post
                      Do you not have any open ground you can plant your strawberries in? I find they never do well in planters.

                      Pictures would still help.
                      Sadly not.

                      Will gets some pics.

                      Thanks again to everyone.

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                      • #12
                        Well the wife has emptied the containers, filled with compost and bone meal and will be sourcing some new plants tomorrow.

                        So before we restock, any tips going forward are appreciated. Planters are being moved to the only spot that gets sun all day.

                        Thanks again

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by gadgetman View Post
                          Plants are in 2x ceramic planters
                          How deep, how tall? And what compost are you using?

                          (for greedy feeders and perennial plants, you should be using something with topsoil or John Innes No.3, not the cheap fluffy MPC types

                          Originally posted by gadgetman View Post
                          would like to replace with stackable 3 plant plastic ones
                          Don't bother, they're rubbish: too shallow.

                          The best container strawbs I've seen were large tubs, as high as your knee
                          All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                          • #14
                            Containers are around 1.5' tall, main part about 9" diameter with 6 side pods each.

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                            • #15
                              Are they in something like this

                              I had something similar but never again. Its really hard to water, feed and give sun to all the plants equally. If you grow them in a normal pot its much easier to manage.

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