strawberry leaves

[KayJay]

Last year my strawbs were in pots - not much fruit but we did have a lousy summer. Now they are in a well manured part of the garden which does get a lot of sun. My question is will the large - I mean really big- leaves not allow fruit to develope as they shade the fruit. will the fruit benefit from me trimming off large leaves now , allowing sun to shine on and ripen fruit.
Any suggestions for a bumper crop, thanks

[scarey55]

I always pick off the larger leaves. I don't know if there is any science behind it but I feel that it will allow air to circulate around the plants and perhaps help combat mould as well as letting the fruit get more of the sun.

[KayJay]

thanks scarey,
I will pick off the odd large leaf.
the strawbs are ripening nicely more n more everyday
Delicious!

[thecarnage]

Weird. I thought this last night and just cut off some big leaves.

I've found some evidence of birds eating them too so invested in some nets.

[snohare]

The larger leaves are a response to the extra nitrogen in the ground; you might want to add some potash (woodash) to that to boost flower and fruits to the same degree, otherwise it will be all leafy growth.
I'm no expert, but I was once told that with strawberries the limiting factor to how well they can do is how much frost has gotten to them the previous winter. No frost = no flowers = no fruit. What I have found gets them to grow is leaving them next to a pond.
Must confess, I had not ever thought of removing leaves to improve air circulation, to judge by the ones at my allotment this year when they get swamped by other, larger plants the leaves and flowers poke up on long stalks, they don't seem to be afraid of a scrummage.
Doesn't matter what I do to my strawberries, the slugs usually get 'em before I do !

[gadgetman]

Pick off the large leaves, or cut back to the crown?

And should I remove those that get most of the sun, and leave the rest?

[snohare]

Whatever you do gadgetman, don't forget that the more leaves you cut off, the more it will struggle for energy. This is a solar-powered gadget. How many solar panels do you want to remove ?
Mark you with most plants, cutting off leaves prompts bolting ie flowering. So it might be a very good way to get fruit, if you get the balance right !

[coreopsis]

I have this problem with mine-plenty of fruit but leaves are the size of my palm.Fruit stalks are long indeed but as the fruit grows bigger stalks lie down on the ground-leaves get the sunshine,fruit doesn't. If I cut a couple of leaves from each plant(no more) will it weaken the plant?

[Florence Fennel]

I've never cut off any leaves while the strawberries are fruiting and even when they are hidden, they still ripen. I usually put straw under the plants which keeps them off the ground and helps the ripening process, but I haven't done so this year as the straw encourages more slugs! Plenty of fruit, so I'm going to try my hand at jam.

[KayJay]

phew! thanks everyone. I've cut one or two off each plant if anything just to help air circulation and cut off some shade
Snohare how and when do you add potash (no woodash)?

[snohare]

If you don't have wood ash KayJay, you can also use shredded banana skins supposedly, they are also full of potassium. Any plant food for fruit bushes etc will also have that as a major constituent - you are looking for a plant food that is high in K in the N:P:K ratio. I would think comfrey feed is good for it too, and not so bad for the soil as straight chemicals.
I have always thought that the hanging basket idea for strawberries is the best way to do it - they are originally cliffside plants, after all. That will give it all as much sunlight as it wants, and keep the slugs and botrytis at bay. Saw a guy on TV once who had like wooden sawhorses that held growbags full of strawberry plants - now he was organised, I'll bet he had bumper crops ! I daresay he could grow lettuce underneath, too.
Meantime, this year, I am going to try pine needles under the plants, which supposedly keeps the slugs off, allows ripening of the fruit, and gives a nicer flavour - it only fell out of favour when straw started being used for growing strawberries out of season.
When it comes to ripening, I gather the theory is that too much water and not enough sun makes for plump but tasteless fruits that go off very quickly, while too much sun and not enough water makes for smaller, harder, acid tasting fruits - the optimum being sweet, juicy fruits that are firm. We all live in hope...