New strawberries trying to fruit

[The Goatreich]

Hi,
Last weekend I bought some strawberries and put them into hanging baskets. They've started off pretty well, and I noticed a few of them have already started to put out what will be flowers, and potentially fruit.
Should I cut these off until the plant is of a suitable size to have energy sources to grow more fruit, rather than concentrating on one massive strawberry? I've read about doing this for chillies and other plants, but wasn't sure with strawberries.

[Mikey]

I would say they have been brought on under cover which is why they are starting to fruit. My plants are barely out of the ground yet. First year plants don't amount to a great deal of fruit, it'll be next year that you get the best return.

Which variety did you buy as some are perpetual croppers and will continue to fruit throughout the season. Others crop only for a few weeks.

[The Goatreich]

Ooh, now you're asking. I better dig through the recycling to see if it says a variety on the package.

[Mikey]

I would guess they are summer fruiters as they tend to flower in the spring for a glut of large fruit in summer. Perpetuals generally flower in mid summer for continuous fruit into late autumn.

To be earlies I would guess that they are either honeoye, or maybe cambridge favourite

[The Goatreich]

I didn't even think to check the variety. What a plonker.
I'll find out tonight, it sounds like I should just leave them be then. There's a ton of birds in the hedge near the plants, so I'll be looking for some netting soon that protects the fruit, but can't hurt the birds.

[sparrow100]

I use Nutleys Kitchen Gardens for mine - they can cut to size, which is handy.
Buy Garden Nettings & Fabrics Online | FREE Delivery from Nutley's

[The Goatreich]

Thanks for that link. I'm not sure how exactly to cover hanging baskets with the net. Would I need to make some kind of box frame so that the netting doesn't meet up to the plant itself? Otherwise I can imagine that the fruit would be right up to the net, meaning beaks can get in there and munch my breakfast.

[gardening_gal]

Funny you should post this now, I was coming to ask the very same thing.

I bought 'Elsanta' stawberry plants (6 to a pack) from Homebase when they had their 20% off all gardening offer on, a couple of weeks back.

I checked the polytunnel last night and there are big fat flowers bursting out already. I wasn't sure if I should be taking these off?

[Mikey]

Elsanta is the supermarkets favourite GG, though they tend to grow hydroponically which I think can diminish the flavour some what. Its a quick cropper, so you should be producing fruit by early June, (wimbledon time) in the polytunnel.

[The Goatreich]

Yep, mine are also elsanta variety.

Does anyone have any tips for making the cage for the bird netting?

[WendyC]

My strawberries, out on the allotment, are flowering. I noticed some have black centres so I'll nip them off when I get a chance as the cold has got to them.