Strawberry Yield Poor

[amandaandherveg]

I planted ut 32 strawberry plants (16 in each of 2 beds) but the pickings were very slim (around 3lbs in total). They were a combination of runners and new plants from last year. Is is worth keeping them to move to the Walled Garden that we've taken over? Should next years crop be more successful?

[Graham S]

They should crop better in their second year although if you move them to the new garden you will set them back again and probably get another poor yield.

[sarraceniac]

I would leave them where they are too. Graham is quite right. Try taking runners into pots and planting the new plants in the walled garden. Within a couple of years they should be giving decent harvests as well.

[amandaandherveg]

I would leave them where they are too. Graham is quite right. Try taking runners into pots and planting the new plants in the walled garden. Within a couple of years they should be giving decent harvests as well.

We'll be moving later in the year when our new house is built so the plan was to put them down at the Walled Garden rather than leave them. Will put the runners in pots though - plenty of those coming along now.

[FB.]

Runners are generaly too small and weak to crop heavily in their first year after planting. My runners from last year averaged about six good strawberries and a couple of small strawberries from each, although some varieties were more prolific than others. Considering the small size of the plants, the crop was satisfactory.
Cropping and plant size increases considerably as they age, with the best crops around age 3-4 years. If you move them, they will have to expend some of next years energy to establish in their new location, so the yield will be a bit less. If you must move them, sooner is better once they have finished fruiting, but make sure that in the heat of summer, they are very well watered for a few weeks after their move, since they will have damaged root systems.