[mickwood]

Probably an obvious answer but not if ya don't know it!

As ya may or may not know, this is my first year at growing stuff and I had a few strawberry plants. We've set some of he runners so we will have more plants for next year but....what do we do with the plants in the bed from this year? Do they stay in situ? So your strawberry bed is a permenant fixture? If so, can they be moved as they were just 'banged in' in the rush to get things growing!!

Cheers

Mick

[Bombers]

Mick,
Just leave the old plants in the bed, and as the tops die back (late Autumn), give them a good hair cut and remove any dead stuff/weeds etc., You may also give them a mulch of well rotted manure around that time. You should have a better crop next year. 
As soon as they are established, plant the new plants, and cut off the old runners. Strawbs normally only crop for 3 seasons, and will then need replacing anyhow.

[mickwood]

Cheers bombers, so best to leave them be permenantly? I may as well fill the bed with more strawberry plants then! 

[DD.]

Don't try & move established plants.

It all ends in tears!

[mickwood]

related question...weed suppressing fabric...can that be used to cover the area between plants to stop weeds? or does something more durable need to be used?

[Mr B]

Hi mickwood,
  I used weed surpressing fabric on mine this year and it worked a treat.
regards,
Chris

[Bombers]

related question...weed suppressing fabric...can that be used to cover the area between plants to stop weeds? or does something more durable need to be used?

Personally I don't bother, because by the time any weeds have started to think about growing, the triffids strawbs have taken over the planet!

[white-blazes]

sorry to hijack this post, but is straw ok to put under the plants to stop weeds?

[Bombers]

sorry to hijack this post, but is straw ok to put under the plants to stop weeds?

I don't put straw down until the fruit have set. It stops the strawbs rotting when in contact with the soil.

[white-blazes]

thanks