Strawberries - Cambridge Favourite

[Scoot]

I'm gping to be getting some of those strawberry planters and some Cambridge Favourites bare root plants to go in them. I'll begetting them off ebay.

I was just wondering when the best time to plant Strawberries is?

Any help would be greatly received.

[It never rains..it pours]

From my limited experience, I would say providing keep a hard frost off them, then the earlier the better as that gives a higher chance of some production this year
Last year I spring planted runners and they all survived but production wasnt great compared to exsisting ones. This year I have autumn planted runners and they look very well apart from a couple that were small and the frost has hit hard and dont think will survive

[burnie]

You'll not get a lot of fruit on the first year, and I'd remove all runners as they grow for the first couple of years, I've grown them for years and I like them, the late great Geoff Hamilton recommended planting in late summer to early autumn, so that suggests warm soil. I would cover the ground with plastic or fleece to warm the soil and put your plants in pots till the end of winter. Last year I bought some bare root French strawbs and they were delivered in March, I planted them in wooden window boxes(because I had some) and they grew well in the greenhouse with a few fruits.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Scoot! You'll be sorry!

Although the "Strawberry" in question is a A1 Top class one to grow, and the only one I grow on my plot, but growing them in them said "Strawberry Planters" is a disaster!

Hard to keep damp enough, and leads to a poor yield!

Just past experience!

[bikermike]

I've got a couple of them. lots of runners, not many fruits. The ones I did get were big (supermarket size), but less flavor than some.
I'll keep them going, but I wouldn't do them again. They are in smallish pots, so it may be the lack of root space they don't like

[boatsman]

Why don't you build a strawberry tower for the plants? I have built a few of them using 6" and 8" inch pipes. I have a drip feed irrigation system in the centre of the pipe from top to bottom so all the plants get water and there is plenty of room for the roots.

[Scoot]

Hmm, not the answers i was expecting. If i bought them early next month and put them in my blow away greenhouse in those strawberry planters would that be ok?

[burnie]

If the blowaway is on a sheltered, preferably south facing spot, you might be ok.

[It never rains..it pours]

Think that will be fine scoot, they are pretty hardy, as looked at mine today and the runners that looked rough are waking up, think planting asap is best plan, for best chance of fruit this summer

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Scoot!

Fine for waking em up n bringing on!

But seriously! Strawberries do put out a substantial root system and establish quite quickly! So for them to do well n produce an abundance of fruit, which they will given the right conditions, I would advise setting up a dedicated bed to move them into once they come into growth!

And to be honest! Once done! You need never buy another strawberry plant ever!

Just stick a few of the runners in a pot of compost, severe from the mother plant once signs of roots are forming, bang em in the greenhouse to overwinter!

Job done!

[Potstubsdustbins]

^^^^^^^^And early fruit, always have 6 runners to over winter in the green house.

[goosander]

Just out of interest I purchased some Florence strawberries from one of the adverts on here. They have been potted into 4 inch pots and are in the cold greenhouse and already have flowers on them.
Bob.

[Scoot]

Cheers for the advice everyone, but what are these "runners" you are all talking of?

I've never grew these before so it's basically baffling me haha.

[Scoot]

And would it be better to scrap those little strawberry planters and just buy a big pot of some sort and fill it with compost?

Maybe something like this... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-Of-2-...id=p5731.m3795

OR maybe a 100 litre pot?

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

And would it be better to scrap those little strawberry planters and just buy a big pot of some sort and fill it with compost?

Personally, that's what I'd do, but ya pay ya money ya takes ya choice!

Cheers for the advice everyone, but what are these "runners" you are all talking of?

I've never grew these before so it's basically baffling me haha.

Honestly! you can't mistake them!

Once the plants start to become established it will throw out a shoot, a long thin stem which will carry a little small floret, a miniature strawberry plant for better words, and then may sprout again on the same stem sometimes producing 3 or 4 florets, I never take more than the first 2 nearest the mother plant, peg down in a pot of compost and wait till it starts to root.

Once it does, severe from the mother plant, bang it under cover and there you go, a brand new baby strawberry plant at little or no expense or outlay!