A neighbouring allomenteer has kindly offered me his strawberry plants - he has had enough of strawberries and wants to grow something different!!
Can someone please tell me when is the best time to move strawberry plants and also if I need to do anything in particular when I do move them.
He also has a gooseberry bush which he wants to get rid of - same question with this one as well - when and what do I do!!
Thanks - I know there will be lots out there with the answers for me
I will only answer for the strawberries part ...
I have some plants currently in large pots, and will be moving them at the end of August, beginning of September ... I have already put a lot of green stuff down on the intended bed to start rotting, and will dig it in during the middle of August.
By planting at this time, it is believed that the plants will develop well enough to give a moderate crop the following season.
Hope this helps ...
Gooseberry - move in winter when dormant, though obviously not in frost. Try to take as much of the root system as possible, into hole that has a layer of well rotted manure in the bottom, backfill and firm it down. Make sure the area is well weeded, you don't want to be weeding under the bush if possible.
Not saying this is necessarily the proper way to do it - but it worked for me, and I got loads of berries this year.
I had to move my gooseberry bush, it was only planted about 6 weeks ago, but the ducks were going in the space where the fruit bushes were, it seems to have died, but I have my fingers and the ducks webbed feet crossed :P
Thanks to all for advice - may have to move gooseberry bush sooner than would like, so everything crossed as well.
Strawberries need to be moved in about 4 weeks, so will leave as long as poss. been down tonight to prepare the bed where they will be moving to, so hopefully lots of lovely strawberries next year.