Strawberry plants

[maggyd]

Ive bought two strawberry plants to-day from Morrisons, no variety on them! just ideal for hanging baskets and containers now I know that LadyG and jasmine have them so Im going to be alright for advice! please ;D.

What compost should I use is multi purpose alright?

Will they be alright taking there chances with the watering for a month or do I need to ask someone to check on them ? (Tulip)

Do I feed them and how often?

Where is the best position for them would partial sun/shade be best until middle of june when I home?

And I have had strawberry plants at the bottom of my garden for years that never flower or fruit!! they were here when we moved in there is just a couple! if I feed them do you think they might fruit or I could move them to another place perhaps!! Ive never grown strawberries before as I thought they were too much trouble to look after (straw underneath and such) but reading on the other board I thought Ill have a go. ;D

[jasmine]

I found this info Maggy:

Frost is the first thought when considering where to grow strawberry plants in your garden. They are very hardy plants during the winter but are not so hardy when they burst into life in spring. It is important to position strawberries where they have least risk of frost.

The next considerations are sun and wind - grow them in the sunniest position in the garden and in the least windy. Too much wind and insects will be unable to pollinate the plants. One tip, don't plant strawberries where peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and potatoes have been grown - these plants could pass on verticillium wilt, a serious strawberry disease.

Strawberries grow very well in raised beds. The soil retains the moisture that they so love but at the same time there is no waterlogging. Strawberries in particular start to rot in waterlogged conditions.

Where a raised bed is used (and baskets presumably), feed the soil with liquid tomato fertiliser every two weeks.

Soil Preparation
Strawberries do not produce deep roots, but they very much appreciate their soil being well-dug to a spades depth. Prepare the soil at least one month before planting. Incorporate as much organic matter as possible and include two handfuls of bonemeal per square metre (yard). A few days before planting apply the recommended dose of general fertiliser such as Growmore. Strawberries are greedy feeders over a relatively short period of time.

When To Plant
Summer fruiting strawberries (the type seen in most shops) can be planted in early September or early April. The best results undoubtedly come from planting in early September, although if your area suffers heavy winter frosts, it is best to wait until mid April.

Your older strawberries may not be fruiting Maggy as strawberries exhaust themselves after 2-3 years which is why it is a good idea to grow runners each year to replace older plants. Have a feeling that strawberries shouldn't be grown in the same spot for year after year either. I haven't grown them for a long time - mainly because of the work involved for a few fruit but also because years ago a poor toad got caught in the netting and OH had to try and cut the poor terrified thing out - he managed but I couldn't think of a solution to not putting netting over the plants to keep the birds off. Still haven't but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

[maggyd]

Thanks jasmine ;D I intend growing in a container, I only bought two plants to see how I go this year, its either a wicker hanging basket or a small trough. I was wondering about the watering as to whether they mind dry roots or if I should put in some water retentive gel, and whether to mix a 50 50 soil compost.

The old strawberry plants! I'm sure I dug them out when I did the border but they keep appearing I noticed the other day. .

[jasmine]

Are they little wild strawberries Maggy? I have those in the front bank and can't get rid of them.
If your starwberries are going in pots I would do half MP compost and half top soil. I do that for most of my veggies that I grow in pots - it seems to retain moisture better. Don't know about using those granules with things that are to be eaten - what do other folk think?
I think from my bit of reading that strawberries like plenty of water - I suppose that would be right as the fruit contains such a large amount of water - but they don't like sitting in soggy soil.
Reading all this back has made me think no wonder folk go to pick-you-own places rather than grow their own!

[jasmine]

But...I think it's worth it for the taste. Sun warmed strawberries off your own plants. Good luck with yours Maggy.
I'm going to check the label on my water gel crystal things to see if it says anything about using with fruit and veggies.

[maggyd]

Oh Heck I bought a tub from Aldi this morning when I went in for flowers for M.I.L. they had loads of garden stuff but didnt have time to look.

I cant see us having a heat wave with no rain while Im away and Im sure if we do Tulip will come and water them
I bet your right about the wild strawberry thing because I cant see why these are coming on the back border its not the typical place to plant them ! and this area would have been all fields and woodlant before this estate was built.

[jasmine]

They're very sweet little plants but you can't pull them up properly....and they must grow from little bits of root left behind.

[maggyd]

Thats it then! problem solved.

[maggyd]

Well there in and one has a flower bud on it! Ive put them in a wicker hanging basket but have stood it on a plantpot for now I dont want to expose them to the cold breeze yet.