Strawberry Plants . . . ?

Question

What should I be doing with my strawberry plants at this time of year? Back in the Autumn, I made a new strawberry bed and planted them out with plenty of well rotted horse's doo-doo. Should I be putting straw around them now?

Answer 1

Yum....strawberries!!

Did anyone tell you that first year plants should not be harvested?? Usually, the first spring, all but one or two of the blossoms are plucked off to permit the plants to get totally established. If you planted them last fall and you didn't get much die-back due to lack of winter (since I don't know where you are)...you may be able to do just half and still get a second blooming in the fall for full harvest (depending of the variety)

As to immediate care....I never liked using straw around plants. straw can mildew and strawberries are prone to that in humid areas any way. Shredded pine mulch can have the same problem due to wood fungus. I always use pine needles around my berries. Easier, less fuss, doesn't break down as quickly, still supplies the acid, quicker clean up, and fewer buggies! THey sell it at some of the home centers, but call first....if not...well...got pine trees????......depending on where you live!! But definately get them mulched in.

[The Horse doo-doo....please tell me it was composted...not fresh....If it was fresh, you're going to have a LOT of weeding to do....horses don't have enough compartments in their stomach to kill all the seed pods they eat.......and along the same line....if you should decide to mulch in with straw....make sure it is STRAW, not HAY....composition and seed content can make a huge difference in later not HATING your berry bed....because of the weeds....]

Oh well...back to the berries...
Mulch them in, pick off some of the blossoms, and remember to pick off all but one baby runner this year. Next year, you can let them all come in and them snip and transplant to a new strawberry bed.

Good luck and happy gardening!! (got shortcake???)

Answer 2

Where do you live. Your strawberry plants should have been heavily mulched before cold weather set in. Strawberries need to be mulched to about six inches deep. Strawberries are very susceptible to frost and one frost day can ruin your whole crop. Mulch heavily now before bloom. Do not allow the mulch to touch the actual plants. Keep the mulch several inches from the plant. Do not remove or pull back the mulch until all danger of frost has past. If you live in a very cold climate, row covers are also recommended. Strawberries are very labor intensive. Any walkways by your strawbery bed should also be heavily mulched. When you begin to push back the mulch from the strawberries, push the mulch into the walkway. Any hint of frost means to get that mulch back in place. Strawberries bloom early and people often dont pay too much attention to the flowers but if the flowers are hit by frost, they will produce a very poor berry if they produce at all. Mulch Mulch. Straw may not be a heavy enough material to keep the ground warm. You can use shredded leaves from your property or decomposing bark or rotten wood from your property. Shredded oak leaves or any other tree leaves is a very good mulch. Pine needles will affect the acidity of your soil but can be mixed in with neutral mulch such as the shredded leaves.

Answer 3

No, if you do you will encourage slugs in the bed. Wait until the flowers have formed then place the straw around the plants making sure the flowers are resting on the straw. This keeps the fruit dry and helps to prevent mildue.
wersel

Answer 4

Cut off any runners so they don't root then weed the plot regularly until the spring when you can put down weed suppressant (or straw) and give them a good feed every other week. Cover them with glass for an earlier crop and look out for slugs and snails.

Answer 5

nicely down right here, in Southern California, they are planted in a "hill" equipment in sparkling plastic. The roots are in simple terms planted as on the instant down as attainable without attempt made to unfold the roots. and that they are watered with a drip equipment making use of drip tape. All runners are cut back off and the flowers are replaced each and every twelve months or the different twelve months. regardless of the undeniable fact which you probable % to apply a "disheveled-row" equipment and area the strawberries a pair of 0.5 meter aside and enable the runners fill in the area and create a large row. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10. get rid of all the flower buds the 1st twelve months, and plan to reap right here years. Then each and every twelve months when you harvest you % to skinny out the disheveled-row of small flowers, narrow the rows, and skinny the flowers to approximately 10 cm aside. and then, have confidence it or not, you % to mow the flowers so as that the leaves are cut back off and fertilize with a balanced fertilizer (They advise 2 kgs according to 30 m of row), and water.

Answer 6

yes, that will help warm the soil and keep the weeds down. Should also feed with a high middle number fertilizer to promote flowers and fruit.

Answer 7

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_february_2_strawberry.asp

Try this link for advice