Hi all,
Right there is a patch of strawberries on the plot that have gone wild and are taking over one end of the lottie. I need to clear some of them and maybe can think off some way of trying to contain them. Thing is i dont know where to start what i can remove and the best way to do it! I think i can spot the main plants as there in a neat row marked at either end!
How do i go about clearing them back a bit without damaging them? I was told by another plot holder that they are lovley big strawberries and dont want to ruin them ???
Any advice would be fantastic down there today hopefully to get it sorted.
Thanks lucy
Dig them up, plant some through mulch to keep the weeds down, then replant the bed every few years.
Thanks robert was hoping to leave the main plants where they are will mulch them just how do i go about removing the runner's that are running wild without damaging the plant. Do i just cut them off is there a point on the runner that i should cut?
Thanks lucy
Follow the runner shoot back to the main plant and cut close to the crown. You can then dig up the runner plant and place it where you want it.
Strawberries are pretty robust so you are unlikely to damage them. One thing to remember when replanting is not to put them in too deep - the crown or base of the plant should be slightly above the surface of the soil.
Thanks will do ;D
I would pot the runners up or make a new bed too - strawberries run out of steam after a few years, so it is a good idea to plant a few new ones every year. Then when the original ones run out of steam you have new ones established to take their place.
Or if you don't want them, you can always give them away or swap them.
If they fruit well people would be glad of them, you can get rid of them anywhere.
There will be nothing lost at the moment by simply leaving all the plants alone. They should be coming into flower soon and by now all plants will be growing on their own roots. Just keep weeds under control.
After the harvest, the bed can be dealt with without any loss. Limit the production of new runners, and dig out any plants growing between rows.
Heh heh....I was having this conversation with our site secretary this afternoon... we came to the conclusion that if it wasn't for the delicious fruit, strawberries would be considered a pernicious weed.....
I'm with Eristic on this one, leave for this season, mulch them with straw and then have a good sort out in autumn. A Dutch friend always advised me to only use the 1st plant off a runner as that will produce the best strawbs and discard the 2nd / 3rd plant on the runners. Not sure if this is correct but have been doing this for a while and all seems ok
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