Strawberries flowers on very small plants

[marchogaeth]

• These are Honeoye plants that spent 'til the end of Jan in pots outside to make sure they got cold in what was a very mild winter.
• Since then they have been in the tunnel.
• They do look very healthy and are obviously growing strongly
• They only have about six really good big leaves each though.

They are coming into flower (as in open flowers or close to).
Should I remove these early flowers?

I did try searching previous posts as I'm sure I've read advice about this before but can't seem to get the filter specific enough.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[marchogaeth]

Thanks in advance for the help.

Hopefully..........

Also, having tried looking elsewhere for help, the tunnel is currently running at 20+C with all the doors open. According to RHS flowers are inhibited at temps above 16C, should I move them outside during the day when temps are this high to ensure future flowering?

[Pa Snips]

I hope you get answers soon.

I'm too inexperienced to offer any advice and would like to know if mine should go outside too, I'm concerned they might be getting too warm in the greenhouse.

[donnakebab]

I'm not an expert but if they have been through the winter outside then I would leave them there. I would have thought that the move would be a bit of a shock so the change in temperature will have encouraged flowering perhaps before the leaves were able to sustain the plant as a whole.

Does that make sense?

[veggiechicken]

Hi Marchogaeth, I haven't a clue so my usual approach is move half, leave half. Hedge your bets as it were! Glorious weather we are after having, now isn't it. By the time you have an informed reply it'll be cold and wet again and you'll wonder why you asked!

[redser]

It's my first year with the tunnel and I'm not experienced with strawberries but have done some research. I did the same as you and brought potted plants inside in January. I am getting some flowers too. I will leave them inside, whatever the weather. The main reason people really use the tunnel is to force an early crop, and the flowers show it is going to plan. But don't rely on tunnel strawberries only, you should grow some outside too. Just try to ventilate as much as you can like you said. I wouldn't have thought 20 degrees too hot. Think about a fine June when most strawberries produce.

[Two_Sheds]

the tunnel is currently running at 20+C with all the doors open. According to RHS flowers are inhibited at temps above 16C

Most commercial British strawberries are grown in polytunnels, so I'm sure they'll be just fine. Keep them well watered in the heat

It's often advised to remove the flowers in a strawb's first year, to strengthen the roots/plant for subsequent years ~ yours aren't babies though?

[marchogaeth]

Thanks very much, I knew their was sensible advice and help out there.

Most commercial British strawberries are grown in polytunnels, so I'm sure they'll be just fine. Keep them well watered in the heat

Thanks, that is logical. It's just the RHS site threw me a bit.

It's often advised to remove the flowers in a strawb's first year, to strengthen the roots/plant for subsequent years ~ yours aren't babies though?

This is what I wasn't sure about. They were plants not runners so does that mean they aren't babies but in their second year of production? (Unless they had all their flowers removed last year.)

I'm not an expert but if they have been through the winter outside then I would leave them there. I would have thought that the move would be a bit of a shock so the change in temperature will have encouraged flowering perhaps before the leaves were able to sustain the plant as a whole.

Does that make sense?

Donna, they look so, so healthy it's just the idea of six leaves supporting 12 or so strawberries! They are putting new leaves up all the time. They are being watered long and deep and getting comfrey once a week as well.

But don't rely on tunnel strawberries only, you should grow some outside too. Just try to ventilate as much as you can like you said.

I have some tumbling everbearers (runners) on order for later cropping. They will need their first flowers removing.

I haven't a clue ........ Glorious weather we are after having, now isn't it. By the time you have an informed reply it'll be cold and wet again and you'll wonder why you asked!

Moral support much appreciated. Weather is bliss. Have had a brilliant day in the woods with my class today, camelias, rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias in full colour as well as all the trees moving into leave. Kites and buzzards over their nests and every other bird singing its heart out and still only March. Fingers crossed this is not our summer!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hate to be a harbinger of dooooom but snow/sleet forecast for parts of the country next week.


Colin

[veggiechicken]

So you've been reading Metro too like BigMallly!

[Pa Snips]

Netweather is also showing the odd overnight -1°C during the next week or so.
I guess I should start getting busy with clear bin-liners and sticky tape.

[veggiechicken]

Can't you get a coat from a charity shop Pa?