Planting strawberries?

[Stedic]

Hi all,

I was given a £20 voucher for T&M the other week and used it to buy myself some new rhubarb and their 'strawberry collection' - which is twelve runners for a full season crop (our strawbs look really unwell this year).

They both turned up today - I know rhubarb is fine to go in now (once I dig the bed over and add some muck), but can the strawberries go in?  Wondered if it was a bit late for them to establish themselves before the big freezes?  They're going into a new high raised bed,so should be fairly sheltered and protected from earlier frosts.

If they can't go in, what should I do with them?

[Stedic]

[Robert_Brenchley]

Put them in, it's still nice and mild. I've just planted up a load myself; I put them in pots as the space wasn't ready as usual, but no reason why they shouldn't go straight out.

[Stedic]

Thanks,

Thats great, I'll get myself some fresh compost and get them in today or tomorrow along with the rhubarb.  Really wish I could cut the rhubarb in its first year....just one or two stems wouldn't hurt would it? :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Better to leave it to gain strength.

[Tee Gee]

Word of warning give them a good soak before you plant them.

Sit them in a bowl/ bucket of water for a while to saturate the root ball.

They should not require any more watering apart from watering them in to settle the soil around them after that.