perpetual strawberries

[diavelman]

I've put my potted perpetual strawberries, (Mara des Bois) in my cold greenhouse as they are still producing fruit and I don't want the birds to eat them. This is the first time I've grown perpetual strawberries and understand that unlike normal strawberries you don't cut all the leaves off in winter, just the ones turning into autumn colours, Is this correct and also will they need repotting and if so when and how? All advice gratefully received, thankyou

[roitelet]

I grow Cirafine which are remontant (perpetual). In the tunnel they are in long window boxes 3 to a box. I do cut the leaves off and put them outside in the winter they need a bit of real cold and a period of dormancy. The early and late fruit in the tunnel does not have much flavour as they lack sunlight. I would be inclined to pull off all the fruit and flowers (sad I know)trim the leaves and leave them outside until about the end of Febuary then bring them in for some early fruit. If they are in a reasonable size pot they probably won't need to be repotted this year. I would give them a bit of strawberry fertilizer after the first flush of fruit.

[diavelman]

Thanks for the information roitelet, mine are also in long window type boxes, 3 to a box. When you say trim the leaves off do you mean all of them or just the ones that are turning brown, thanks again