Moving Strawberry plants from raised bed

[Dynamite]

Hi everyone, I am going to move my Strawberries from one of my raised beds. They are going to be moved into a border instead so I have the space in the raised bed for other crops. They are established mature plants and been in the raised bed a few years already, spreading away merrily being refreshed every year with new shoots.

Question is, how early would it be ok for moving them?

I’m guessing after last frost date but do you think earlier will be ok?

Kind Regards.............Rob

[4Shoes]

It will depend on how much disturbance to the roots.


Lifting a few plants - soils and all - should be easily achieved anytime. You may want to put a bit of fleece over them, but I wouldn't bother. You may want to leave it into February / March, but there is no guarantee weather will be good and temperature will not drop to frost and snow - remember last year.

[Dynamite]

It will depend on how much disturbance to the roots.


Lifting a few plants - soils and all - should be easily achieved anytime. You may want to put a bit of fleece over them, but I wouldn't bother. You may want to leave it into February / March, but there is no guarantee weather will be good and temperature will not drop to frost and snow - remember last year.

Thanks 4shoes

[SarrissUK]

I agree - I'd leave it until the spring and it seems to generally have warmed up a little bit. They can be remarkably strong-willed plants - mine kept getting unearthed and dug up by cats wanting to do their business (my cats, may I add), and every time I pushed them back into the soil and they were fine. They're less keen on cold and wet though, so I'd wait

[Dynamite]

I agree - I'd leave it until the spring and it seems to generally have warmed up a little bit. They can be remarkably strong-willed plants - mine kept getting unearthed and dug up by cats wanting to do their business (my cats, may I add), and every time I pushed them back into the soil and they were fine. They're less keen on cold and wet though, so I'd wait

Thank you Sarriss Kind Regards.............Rob

[mcdood]

I'd agree if you don't have to move them then March would be better but I moved a 1/2 bed of mine middle of Dec during a mild period as I needed the bed for something else. They seem to be Ok though I do have the insurance of another bed full of undisturbed strawberries if it goes wrong.

[burnie]

Can you put them in pots and keep them in a greenhouse or even a shed with some light? That way you can work on the raised bed. Another thing to consider is it close to the time when the old plants need replacing as it is good practice to only keep strawberry plants for 5 years maximum.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

I'd echo the sentiments of all above advise

I moved my second year crowns (grown from the parents runners) a few years back, I say moved, that's a lie, I wanted to have a proper weed and tidy of the beds they were currently in, so chopped all the foliage back with the intention of lifting, tidying, revitalising the soil with home made compost and replanting but then never got the time to finish the job

So covered in fleece (as the plants were now naked) and left it till March then lifted, did the above and replanted

Got the best crop of strawberries I have ever had!

[Dynamite]

Can you put them in pots and keep them in a greenhouse or even a shed with some light? That way you can work on the raised bed. Another thing to consider is it close to the time when the old plants need replacing as it is good practice to only keep strawberry plants for 5 years maximum.

Good idea and Yes, I “refresh” them every year to be honest.

Kind Regards.............Rob

[littlemoney]

Dynamite, thanks for askig the question. I have some strawberries which I had been hoping to move in the autumn to let them get established before winter but it sounds like I will still have an opportunity in the spring.

[Dynamite]

Quick update..... I moved them today into some large pots rather than into a bed. I needed the raised bed space that they were in and didn’t have time to create a new border.

Kind Regards.............Rob

[broadway]

Just high jacking your thread Dynamite, hope that's ok:-)

Ideally I'd like to move my strawberries from my backyard pots to my new allotment by the end of October, any obviously problems with this?

[Dynamite]

Personally think it will be fine. They seem really hardy plants

Kind Regards.............Rob

[ameno]

If you're just planting out the whole pot, you can do that at any time of year.
Although frankly even bare root will probably survive at any time if you keep them watered. I transplanted a few strawberries in July and they seem fine.

If you're going to split them up or otherwise disturb the roots a lot, I'd at least wait until October, but otherwise I'd say go right ahead.

[broadway]

Personally think it will be fine. They seem really hardy plants

Kind Regards.............Rob

Cheers Rob