What's happened to my strawbs?

[mikk100]

I planted 12 bare rooted strawberry plants in the autumn that I'd ordered from a stockist. I followed all instructions and covered them with fleece throughout the winter, when I lifted the fleece a few weeks ago there was nothing there...I can't even see where I'd planted them! There are 4 other plants in the bed which are a year old and nothing has happened to them so what's up with my new ones? Are they dead or is there still time for them to sprout up? Theres no sign of slugs but I understand there are loads of other pests that affect strawbs.

Any thoughts ???

[wellie]

mikk,
can you have a little dig around with your fingers under the soil to find out if there's anything still below ground? Because that would be a start, and you could then go from there forward if there isn't.

[Nicos]

Hello Mikk- and welcome to the Vine!!
Fruit are not really my specialised field, although I do have a bit of experience with strawberries!!
2 of my 12new plants died last year and I'd followed the instuctions too.
When I contacted thecompany they said if I could post any ramains back to them, then they'd be happy to replace them.
It does sound as if yours have died though as if they have spent the mild winter under fleece, then they should be shooting by now.
I'd do as Wellie suggests and if you can't easily find them, then gently turn the area with a trowel.
You never know- they may still be ok and you've planted them a bit deep? ( they should sit ontop of the soil).
Let us know how you get on!

[wellie]

And if you find any grubs of any description in amongst the roots, put them in a jamjar or something, take a digi photo of them, and post it up for us to see. Vineweevil is one that can be a problem, but until you do your detective work underground, best not speculate.

[muckdiva]

I planted up a strawberry pot with several plants last year and only the ones in the top of the pot seem to still be there - I'd wondered if the others had got soggy at some time and rotted? No idea what happened, though I had left them in the hope some new sprouts from under the compost might appear in the coming weeks. I had made sure the crowns were not buried too deeply, but my money is on a drainage problem over the winter, and that the plants rotted. Will be interested to see if any other grapes have had disappearing plants - and whether mine do eventually re-appear.

[bubblewrap]

Left mine out Over Winter (bought from local garden centre )in prepared bed without cover seem to have survived OK ! Maybe I'm just lucky.

[borage]

I grew mine for the first time last year, main plants in containers are doing really well


New plants taken from the runners have flowers and blackfly on them, yes this early in the year, I am trying not to think about the summer.

[eskymo]

The plants might have died back - too much moisture under the fleece maybe. I had several last year that died back in the pots and I thought that was it as there was nothing left of them -and being the lazy gardener that I am - I just left the pots and forgot about them - all plants have now come back to life. The regrew with extra vigour and I'm hoping for a good crop this year.

The smae might have happened to yours, so dig about a bit at one end of the bed and see if there is anything under the ground. Vine weevils is a possible cause for them dying back like you describe, but I'm no expert. I had vine weevil in a load of my pots last year, but dug plants up and cleaned the roots of them, replanted and all is fine now.

Hope you find them!

[mikk100]

ooh, many thanks for all your help, I will dig about when the rain stops. Will I be able to see vine weevil quite easily or do I need a magnifying glass?!?!?!?

[eskymo]

you'll be able to see them - small white caterpillar sized grubs - I found a few today and put them on the bird table where they quickly become a tasty feast for passing birdies.

[welsh veg grower]

I'd leave them a few more weeks, they may well come. I have strawbs galore I just keep taking plants of the runners, never cover them leave them out all winter and they seem fine. However started alpine strawbs last year, the plants from the runners are in the unheated poly tunnel and doing ver well, even if I did forget to water tehm for weeks at a time but I had some in a strawberry pot (a lovely earn type pottery thing) and most of them have dissapeared. I'll do my trick of leave them alone and they may come home but dont hold out much hope for those ones.

[mikk100]

hmm, just bought some alpine strawberries from the farmers market, not to replace the missing ones from my bed but to put in my garden. it says on the instructions that you can plant them in the shade and I have a shady spot in my garden that never sees the sun. I also bought some cat mint that apparently reples rats...wonder if its worth a try or if the logic is that it attracts cats and thus repels the rats!!!!

As a side issue, are alpine strawbs. very different from other types, it says they are creeping plants, they won't crawl up my fence will they??? It sounds as though they might spread, is that right?

[JennieAtkinson]

Hi Mikk and welcome to the Vine!
It has never occured to me to cover my strawberries with fleece for the winter. I just leave them to the elements and I noticed yesterday that I have quite a bit of new growth coming through.
Good luck with the alpines - I believe they are very tasty!

[Lesley Jay]

Yes they do spread. There is another thread that talks about them. Must find it!!

Found it in the seed swap dated 2/3/07. Shirlthegirl started with just one plant!