Strawberries and weed membrane

[organic_gibbo]

Any issues with planting strawberries through holes cut in weed membrane guys?

Bought these strawberry cream 'jumbo plugs' from a well known company that has been getting a lot of slating recent and well they're just tiny . Could of spent my £10 better at bnq etc!

[Runtpuppy]

Don't see why planting them through holes in a weed membrane should be an issue.

With regards to the tiny plants, I bought Just Add Cream from the same source and I think it's the variety itself that is slow-growing. It's not vigorous and doesn't send out as many runners as the other varieties. It took my plants a year to 'bush out' a bit. Not complaining coz I like the flavour, but they are very slow to start.

[Nicos]

I grew them like that on our first allotment.
Absolutely no problems!
(I did worry about slugs but mine were fine)

As they are baby plants, why not cover them with light fleece too just to give them a bit of a head start?
(You'll presumably not be allowing them to flower/fruit this year, so pollination shouldn't be an issue)

[organic_gibbo]

Don't see why planting them through holes in a weed membrane should be an issue.

With regards to the tiny plants, I bought Just Add Cream from the same source and I think it's the variety itself that is slow-growing. It's not vigorous and doesn't send out as many runners as the other varieties. It took my plants a year to 'bush out' a bit. Not complaining coz I like the flavour, but they are very slow to start.

Ah ok, so it'll be next year before they are established, thanks!

[organic_gibbo]

I grew them like that on our first allotment.
Absolutely no problems!
(I did worry about slugs but mine were fine)

As they are baby plants, why not cover them with light fleece too just to give them a bit of a head start?
(You'll presumably not be allowing them to flower/fruit this year, so pollination shouldn't be an issue)

I had planned to, naively! Is it best to prevent fruiting in the first year?

[It never rains..it pours]

I grow one bed of mine in membrane, seems to work well vs non membrane, nearly zero weeding, as my membrane black helps warm soil and saves any strawing, etc needed as made slight slope dome effect so water runs off to side of rows. Only thing would say is maybe need to add bit more manure/compost to soil at start as cant add anything easily after in my case at least

[organic_gibbo]

I grow one bed of mine in membrane, seems to work well vs non membrane, nearly zero weeding, as my membrane black helps warm soil and saves any strawing, etc needed as made slight slope dome effect so water runs off to side of rows. Only thing would say is maybe need to add bit more manure/compost to soil at start as cant add anything easily after in my case at least

Cheers! It's mostly full of well rotted horse manure

[Brack]

I have 40 odd plants in a bed planted through holes in woven black plastic stuff. They've worked fine in the past two years.
I have to say a colleague bought some just add cream, but isn't too happy about them either - wishes he could have the more traditional ones.

[Nicos]

I had planned to, naively! Is it best to prevent fruiting in the first year?

If you reward them with kindness they will reward you ten fold

I'd nip off any flowers and allow them to get their roots well established in that yummy soil