New strawb plants flowering already

[gingerneil]

Hi all
I bought some darselect strawberry plants from my local Wyevale about a month ago. I have planted them in hanging baskets and they seem to have settled well. However, maybe too well. I noticed this noting that I have a couple of buds coming on the new growth that has appeared since I planted them. Should I let these be, or snip/pinch them off so that energy is focussed on root growth at this early stage?

Any hints or tips greatly accepted - I'm in my first season of strawberry growing and need all the help I can get!

[FB.]

If they're in baskets then you're mainly after the fruit.
I'd probably let them fruit, but remove any runners. That way, they'll both keep your tummy happy but also save the energy that would have been wasted on runners - which will then get directed into bigger plants for next year.
Keep them well watered. Strawberries are thirsty plants when in containers or baskets.

[gingerneil]

Thanks. Should I snip the runners as soon as they appear?

[sewer rat]

I have a lot of strawberries - two big beds outside and 60-odd hanging baskets in the tunnel - and the outside beds were filled using runners from the baskets. I asked the same question a couple of years ago and as a result, this is what I do now. Leave the plants to do what they want - you'll get plenty fruit anyway -only cut off the runners as soon as they appear if you don't want to multiply the amount of plants you have. If you want new plants, leave the runners on -they will produce several new plantlets which will produce a small root growth, even when suspended in mid air. I would remove the runner when the first plantlet has a root growth of about 1/2 inch. I then put this in a youghurt pot filled with water - it will grow on and produce a healthy root system - you can then either pot up or plant depending on yuor preference.
When you said they are producing new buds, do you mean runners, flowers or just new growth from the centre of the plant ? Don't worry about concentrating on the root growth -the plants do that for you

[gingerneil]

Rat - thanks. I don't want more plants as I don't have room. The growth I am seeing are new leaves, but also several flower buds. It 'feels' too early - are the plants being fooled by the current nice weather, and heading for a fall?

[sewer rat]

To be honest, as strawberries will produce lots of flowers throughout the season, I'd be tempted to leave them alone. As has been mentioned previously, strawbs are thirsty plants, so bear that in mind and all should be well - enjoy your strawberries - can't beat the taste of a just picked berry - though if I pick some from my tunnel on a hot day, I don't really like them as the fruit is too warm - must be getting too fussy in my old age

[Buleste]

I had one plant flowering in November last year. It even got pollinated and started growing a strawberry. Winter sorted that out. TBH I don't think that Strawberries are the brightest of plants.

[Waffler]

Not been on for a looooooooong time - work, work work and all.
However, bought myself some strawb plants recently with the intention of planting a row on the patch. I then read it wasn't a good idea to put them anywhere that pots have been grown in recent years (I rotate so all the patch has been used and don't really want a strawb row in the middle of the patch). Also decided maybe I shouldn't use valuable space on the patch when I could plant them in big tubs. So, the question is, how far apart can they be in containers? I've got 2 half barrels and was thinking 5 or 6 per container? (I have 7 plants but would be happy to buy more.) And I could still propogate these for subsequent years if I decided to dedicate some patch to them?

[chris]

Hmm.. I have these hanging basket sorta thing - kinda hang off the wall, rather than from chains.. They're approx 30cm in diameter at the top - tapering to a point below. Last season I put 4 x honeyo in each and got fantastic crops. This year, I've put 2 patriots in 1, and 3 alpines in another.. as I couldnt get hold of any more at the time.

[Jax]

Ours have masses of flowers on and there are even some strawbs coming through, Id say just let them do there thing. Nature has a way of sorting itself out.

[bendipa]

Blind Strawbwerries

I have a number of maiden strawberry plants propagated last year. Most have done well and produced trusses now flowering, but some of the plants are blind (no flower trusses) despite a good root system, and the foliage looking healthy and the plants vigorous.

Has anyone else had the same problem or know what may caused the blindness in these plants?

[tomsloc]

Hi, the only problem with pots and hanging baskets is that you need to repot after the first year because otherwise the plants are vulnerable to the grubs of vine weevil (small white grubs in the pots which eat the roots and kill the plants) when you repot look carefully at the roots and kill any of these grubs and don`t reuse the old compost.

Tom

[Jeanied]

I have a number of maiden strawberry plants propagated last year. Most have done well and produced trusses now flowering, but some of the plants are blind (no flower trusses) despite a good root system, and the foliage looking healthy and the plants vigorous.

Has anyone else had the same problem or know what may caused the blindness in these plants?

Just wondered if it is not a bit early to decide the plant is blind? My strawbs kept sending out flower shoots most of last summer.

[bendipa]

Just wondered if it is not a bit early to decide the plant is blind? My strawbs kept sending out flower shoots most of last summer.

No. With this variety the flower trusses always appear in May, and then fruit from early June. I don't know whether the affected maidens all came from the same plant, as last year,I took 3-4 maidens from each plant.