Hi
A very kind gentleman has given me some strawberry plants, they have good roots on and look very healthy.
I have approximately 60, some are runners and the others have very long stems and large leaves.
I have never grown strawberries before.
I have made a strawberry tower out of an old compost bin and planted the runners.
Will it be ok to prune the leaves right back to about 3 inches and keep them in the polytunel planted in 4 inch pots until Spring next year?
If this is not right then what is the best thing to do? I am worried if I leave them as they are the frost may take them.
Many thanks
Greenqueen.
Weather permitting I will be like Edward Scissorhands with my strawberry plants this weekend.I will used hedge shears and cut them right back to the ground nearly.Then in a few weeks time when my manure is delivered,I will spread a generous amount in and around them and then sit back andwait for next years crop ;D
Another chap I know actually spreads straw over the plants and sest fire to it....he always gets a great crop the followong year.
I would wait until the leaves start dying down naturally before chopping them off..let them settle in and maybe even put some new growth on..if there is any dead or damaged leaves..you might as well remove those as you don't want anything nasty spreading or entering in from wounds.
Once your plants are established..next year...'the Edward' job is good one to do.. ;)
One of the allotment the leaves were absolutely stripped by deer and they then had a marvellous crop. I think I will take up the netting and let them get on with it.
If you spread manure do you make sure it does not go over the crown of the plant or do you just cover them? What about recycled compost, bit of an issue here with manure.
I always wait till the cold weather takes them down and then cut off all the foliage......then wait till next year ;D