[greenhead]

Hi All,

Problems with creeping cinquefoil in a conventional bed.  I tried a different approach using weed suppression matt which solved one problem but the strawberry plant yield and vigour  is very poor compared with the same plants in an open bed close by.  The ground was properly prepared beforehand with well rotted manure.  Can anybody offer any clue as to why this (experimental) bed  is giving poor results.

Mike.

[snow white]

If the plants have only been put in this year then you will get a poor yield.  Mine are grown the same way and I have had loads of fruit, but only in year two.  Now on year five and still going very strong.

[greenjay]

checked my strawberries tonight to find something else had got to them first.

[greenhead]

Thank you Snow White and Greenjay,

Hope next year things will be better,  but  I am still puzzled by the same plants doing much better in a conventional bed a few feet away!!  Weird.

Last year had a good crop of fruit, courtesy of the black birds,  slugs  and the dreaded creeping cinquefoil. This year it looks like Tesco for my strawberries!!

Mike.

[greenjay]

when you covered the ground how dry was it?
how well manured was it?
both of these would affect growth in my opinion.

[Fairy Plotmother]

Mine needed a year to get going. Also had something having a nibble, so we covered the whole bed with shading with has helped enormously. Another thing that has helped is leaving damaged fruit on an adjacent bed close by. The nibbles ate this and left my plants alone. About 25 lbs of strawberries this year👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[greenhead]

The bed prepared in February this year and was quite moist and manured in the traditional way (manure layered a spit down).  The weed suppresser material allows water, rain to permeate through.  The strawberry plants are producing plenty of runners which are removed - could be a sign of stress??

I have used this method with onions with no problems.

Mike.

[Salmo]

Probably lack of water. On an open bed you can see when the soil is properly wet. On a covered bed you can only guess.

[candygold1]

grow mine the same and 2nd year around and a very good crop.