2 nd year strawberries

[plot apprentice]

hi folks

got 12 strawberrie plants (everbearer variety)that i got last year, as expected they produced a small but tasty crop last summer. bit confused by the info i have read re year two.
do i leave the first flowers on or do i remove them please help as my two year old son can't get enough of them so i need a bumper crop.THANKS

ALSO GOT RUST COLOURED SPOTS ON MY RASPBERRIE PLANTS ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO ZAP IT ORGANICALLY.

P.A.

[Two_Sheds]

If you take off the flowers, you also remove the fruit.

[stanhol]

I think you are only supposed to remove flowers the first year to improve cropping later .

Remember to get those runners potted when they sprout so you can have a continuous supply of new plants. Usually Strawberries reduce cropping in 3rd and subsequant years. Also dont keep them in the same place for more than 3 or 4 years.

It doesnt seem to matter how many plants i grow on we never have enough, i suspect i have strawberry theives living in my house! They pop into the greenhouse when I`m not around and pinch anything red! ha ha ha

Good luck

Sandra

[SlugLobber]

If you've got a dog, they'll nick the strawberries, too! Cheeky little beggars!

I didn't realise that about the runners and reduction in crops - thanks!

[jackie j]

Mine are putting out runners now I think do I let them continue or take them off ? Something is eating the ripe strawberries now, its not birds as they are netted and I dont think its slugs, I weeded the patch and put fresh straw down at the weekend clearing any slugs that I found.

[Two_Sheds]

Jackie, it will be slugs. Trust me. If you don't want the runners for new plants, cut them off.