Wilko's "Ostara" Strawberries

[peanut]

I bought 9 Ostara Strawberry plants from Wilko's and they have all died.
They were ordered online and looked pretty crap when they arrived, have now complained and am awaiting response.

Has anyone else grown with this variety?

[seasprout]

I got some from wilkos 12 months ago from the shop, i looked at them carefully before purchasing, however they slowly but surely snuffed it.

I only got them cos they where cheap.

Turned out pricey in the end.

[muckdiva]

I got some from wilkos 12 months ago from the shop, i looked at them carefully before purchasing, however they slowly but surely snuffed it.

I only got them cos they where cheap.

Turned out pricey in the end.

Snap, Seasprout. This happened to me last year, with Ostara and another variety. I was in Wilko a week or so back, and looked at the Strawberries again, but all those hanging up looked pretty much dead...

[peanut]

Will be putting Ostara on the not to grow list now.....glad it's not just me killing them though!

[muckdiva]

Hi Peanut
I don't really think it's the variety so much as the fact that the ones in the shop at least are stored far too warm, and unless they are purchased quickly, they sprout instore, and then die from lack of moisture I guess. It looked like that's what had happened when I checked out the bag. If you look at Wilko plug plants also, unless you've snapped them up 'fresh' there are often only about 50% of the plugs in a pack still alive. Warm showrooms are not a good place for non dormant plants IMO.

[Herbgardener]

I bought some Ostara from Wilkos last year without any problems, but it was later in the year and they were in the clearance bit so an absolute bargain.. looking at the plants they have in stock at the moment I would guess that they have been grown undercover and aren't liking a sudden switch to this atrocious weather we've been having when they get planted outside..