3-year life span? Three questions.

[Florence Fennel]

I have read that strawberry plants should be replaced after 3 years fruiting and that means mine after this year. They are still producing plenty of fruit and look really healthy, do I really have to replace them with new plants? Second question is if I do have to replace them, do I have to create a new bed in a different part of the garden? Thirdly, the family are not great jam eaters and I have more strawberries spare than is usual (grandchildren are away for 2 weeks at my heaviest cropping time!). Has anyone got any other ideas for preserving? In my experience they don't freeze too well.
Flo

[Shadylane]

From what I know they can last up to five years so if still healthy and producing I personally would keep them until they start to lose their vigour. I think after 3 years you're supposed to repot them or move them to a diffrent area to prevent a build up of pests/diseases. There was a lot of stuff on the last River Cottage about strawbs inculding mascerating them in sugar and vinegar (or something), I think- although that could be totally wrong. Check out the channel 4 website it will be on there somewhere. What about fruit smoothies? Blend them up with yoghurt, milk or ice cream. Beaut.

[Florence Fennel]

From what I know they can last up to five years so if still healthy and producing I personally would keep them until they start to lose their vigour. I think after 3 years you're supposed to repot them or move them to a diffrent area to prevent a build up of pests/diseases. There was a lot of stuff on the last River Cottage about strawbs inculding mascerating them in sugar and vinegar (or something), I think- although that could be totally wrong. Check out the channel 4 website it will be on there somewhere. What about fruit smoothies? Blend them up with yoghurt, milk or ice cream. Beaut.

Hi Shadylane - I did see River Cottage with the strawberry theme. I have had an idea about making strawberry ice cream, thanks for the tip about smoothies. I think I'll give the strawberry plants a reprieve this year as they still look so healthy, but I'll give them a good feed when they've finished fruiting and I cut them back.

[FB.]

A friend of mine has had a strawberry bed for many years.
They remove any plants that look sick, but leave the remainder to fruit or produce runners as they please.
Works for them......

[rustylady]

The theory is to plant new plants in year one, don't take any fruit off them just leave them to establish and produce superb fruit in year 2. During this time cut off any runners that appear as you are supposed to be building up the plants' strength. During year 2, enjoy your fruit and let one runner per plant establish itself either in a pot or in the bed (this is a bit hard as one runner if not stopped can root itself in about six places). When your nice little runners have rooted well you plant them in a row next to the existing row and the theory is that gradually your strawberry bed will move itself along the allotment/garden as you dig out the old ones. Got the idea? I know the theory but my strawberries still ended up a tangled mess, and at the mo the only ones I have are in pots in the garden and a few oddballs on the lottie as I'm supposed to be making a new bed for them.

[Shadylane]

That's a good idea I never thought of just allowing them to work their way along the plot. Not sure I would be able to organise everything else around them though. I like the idea (what FB said) about leaving them to it unless they look a bit rubbish. That attitude works for me

[Florence Fennel]

I decided to have a go at jam making today, (River Cottage style) but it may be a bit more like strawberry sauce - giving it away anyway! As my strawberries are still healthy I'm not going to replace them this year, up to now anyway!