Strawberries and raspberries HELP!

[redlandrover90]

Good morning all,

I'm just about to plant some strawberries that I got in the bargain basement section of the garden centre. I've never grown them before and thought £3 for 5 plants was enough to pay if they turn out to be a disaster.

They're 'Cambridge favourite' and I'm just about to put them in. My questions are these.

- At this time of year am I better putting them under cloches?
- I have recently added a good dose of well, well rotted horse muck to the ground, is this ok?
- Would anyone recommend containers over putting them in the ground?

Right now onto raspberries!
- I'm thinking of Joan J as they seem to be quite popular. When's the best time to put them in? Will they be ok in the ground with well rotted horse muck?
- Should I expect my first crop next year or will I have to wait until the following year?
- After putting the canes in the ground is there any maintenance to carry out?

Sorry there seems to be a lot of questions there but I'm a bit of a beginner!!

Thanks

[Two_Sheds]

Autumn fruiting rasps are generally less trouble than summer ones: Joan J is meant to be even better than Autumn Bliss

You should get a crop next year.

Don't plant them too deep; make sure you get out all perennial weeds first, esp.couch grass; mulch them well in summer (I use sheets of wet newspaper weighed down with soil)

[zazen999]

I'm harvesting a punnet or two of Joan J every day at the moment and have been for about 5 weeks. They are brilliant. They went in last winter on a very very cold day and the harvest has been brilliant. They've paid for themselves in the first season already.

Strawbs don't need cloches, they are perfectly hardy. The more manure the better, as far as I can tell. I don't use it myself but I'm assured it is good

[coreopsis]

The more manure the better, as far as I can tell. I don't use it myself but I'm assured it is good

Not for the strawberries-you can feed them a little but not a lot-too many nutrients means they'll use it for leaf growth(and runners) but hardly any fruit.

[redlandrover90]

Thats great, Thanks guys!

Any info on maintaining the raspberries is welcome!

[rustylady]

Strawberries are completely hardy - need no protection whatsoever (till they start fruiting - then you need to keep the birds and beasties off them.