Strawberry fields forever

[Moggle]

Or more like strawberry growbags forever....
I finally bought some strawberry plants on the weekend. I got 6 Cambridge favourite and 4 Florence.  ;D
I have planted them in a grow-bag as per information on the Ken Muir website. I decided against the Don Burke strawberry tower - too expensive for more pots. They are probably a bit crowded in the grow bag, but then so is the rest of my balcony.  :-\
What do I need to be doing with them to make sure I get some kind of crop this summer? Will there still be enough time for them to flower this season?
Also, when is it ok to start taking runners off them, so I can grow more strawbs next year?

[Moggle]

[aquilegia]

You can cover them to kick start them for an earlier crop. I've had some in my mini greenhouse and they have not started flowering yet - so yours are not too late.

If any runners form, cut them off until the plants have finished fruiting. You want the energy to go into fruit rather than runners at this stage. I got over 20 new plants by pegging down runners that formed in July and August last year.

[Ragged Robin]

...mine have overwintered outside and are in flower already.

[Mrs Ava]

ooooo, my strawb plants are getting huge, but I didn't get down and have a poke about to see if there are any flowers....I shall look tomorrow.  Last year we had strawbs ripening in November!
yumyum pigsbum!

[Moggle]

Ok, thanks for the tips everyone. I guess there is still hope that I will get some kind of crop this year then.  :)
Thanks Aqui for the tip about runners, I hope to take loads of runners after they fruit and get my moneys worth out of these babies. £11 for the 10 plants!  :(
I am sure I could have gotten them cheaper, but I just didn't have time to shop around.

[Debs]

I've just bought 6 strawberries for £4.99 at Focus...

Has anyone bought any cheaper??

[Moggle]

Well I had a good look when I watered them last night, and there seem to be lots of little leaves growing out of the crowns. They seem to be loving the sun and are growing well already. I hope this is a good sign.
£4.99 for 6? Well I didn't pay much more than that so I feel a bit better now. :)

[Tall Trees]

Has anyone got a wyevale near them?  I purchased last weekend a terracota strawberry planter with the strawbery plants already planted for £10.  They may still have some left but this is at the North Leicestershire one near Mountsorrel.

[Moggle]

D'oh!  >:(
How many plants in that TT?

[Tall Trees]

I'm sorry to say it was seven plants

[bananagirl]

Love strawberries. I buried mine last year, and only lost one! Do you think it's too early to dig them up? I need to put them in bigger pots I think.

[Moggle]

I HAVE FLOWERS!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Checked today and 2 flowers had appeared. I was jumping up and down!
Looks like I might get some kind of crop this year then  :D
Off to check the ken muir site as I think I now have to start feeding them, but don't know what.

[Moggle]

Oh, and as I doubt I'll get any pollinating insects up here on the 2nd floor, what about helping my little darlings along?
Ken Muir site says a soft brush, but no details for newbies like me.

[Mrs Ava]

I think what you need is a soft little paint brush, an art brush, not an emulsioning the ceiling type brush, and you just twizle (technical term) it around the centre of the flower, then move onto the next one.  The idea is to transfer pollen from an anther to a stigma in the same flower or to a flower on the same plant.  This fertilises (?) the flower bud so it makes seed, which are on the strawbs.  Hope this helps.  :-\

[Moggle]

Thanks EJ
I have a suitable brush and will attempt to 'twizle'  :)