Forcing strawberry plants

[hop-a-long]

Hi all,

I was over at the allotment today, had a look at my little strawberry patch, and a thought occurred to me... Why not dig up a decent plant and stick it on a spare windowsill in my house for a month or two, and see if I can get an early crop! (before the house gets overrun by tomatoes and chillies!)

I've done it now but wondering if it'll work or not!

Has anyone tried this before and is it worth a go?

[nickdub]

I've read about it, but not tried it myself.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Every year I over winter 6 in the unheated green house gives me strawbs about a month early

[roitelet]

I pot up 1yr old runners in the autumn and take them into the tunnel about now and get an early but small crop. Should do it tomorrow!!

[4Shoes]

Yes, young runners... Old plants get set in their ways, but will fruit early indoors

I read in a growers mag. Runners will crop truer to season (Early, Main, Late). Once plants are over a year, the cropping merges to a shorter season over all.

[MarkPelican]

Did it for the first time last year, potted some up and suspended them from the polytunnel framework. Strawberries about 3 weeks early without affecting the rest of the tunnel. Took them down once fruited and put them (in their pots) outside (fed and watered). Have put the old ones (and some new ones back in the tunnel last week. See how they do.

[burnie]

I grew Mara des Bois in the greenhouse in wooden window boxes last year and will do so again this year as most seem to be surviving the winter, very nice strawbs a lot earlier (and also later) than the Cambridge Favourites outside(not as many though).

[MarkPelican]

I grew Mara des Bois in the greenhouse in wooden window boxes last year and will do so again this year as most seem to be surviving the winter, very nice strawbs a lot earlier (and also later) than the Cambridge Favourites outside(not as many though).

Keeping them well watered was my main problem