Strawberry beds - soil type?

[Newton]

I am planning on preparing a bed for next years strawberries using plants from last years runners.

What type of soil should I prepare? Do they like lots of compost or not? I plan to replant after the harvest!

[Alison]

Mine are sown in normal lottie soil (a bit acidic in my case) with a good application of garden compost and chicken manure and do really well. They do best in their second and third year of fruiting so I wouldn't advise replanting after each harvest as you're making work for yourself and missing out. I tend to keep mine for three year before replacing, simply adding a mulch of compost every new year.

[gojiberry]

I use multipurpose for rooting runners and then just plant out into organic rich soil. I find they grow really well in MPC but the vine weevil like it as well and I have lost high % of plants overwintered in MPC.

Ian

[Newton]

I plan on expanding this years plants (first year) which are establishing themselves on my existing patch which is now overcrowded and chaotic.

I hope also to pot the runners to establish a cycle for the coming years. I love strawberries!

Do the vine weevil live in the compost? How do they get there? If I plant through weed membrane would it prevent them?

[Two_Sheds]

Vine weevils attack containers, you don't usually need to worry about them in the garden soil. They get there from eggs laid by the adult beetles (you can find them halfway up walls at night - pick & crush)

[Sylvan]

Or get someone else to crush - after you've left the vicinity. They crunch

[Florence Fennel]

Very good then for ladies who crunch. Mine are/were in ordinary garden soil and over the years have produced a massive harvest. As they were very old plants, I replaced them last year, so this year I have very few strawberries and will have to build them up again! No jam. Enjoy yours.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I plant a new row every year and at the same time cull a row so that there is never a time when I have only new plants.

[northepaul]

Planted mine in manure with black weed stopping cloth over the top, last year - (obviously with holes cut for the strawbs) They seem very healthy and not to really need much. I put straw around the plants when the fruit forms, oh and dont let them get too wet.(slugs etc)