[GillyHen]

Would strawberries benefit from being under a cold frame over the summer? I have discovered three strawberry plants as I've cleared the plot.. wondered if they might be growhappy thinking they were somewhere warmer than Blighty 

[woodburner]

I don't know for sure but as they grow wild in temperate woodland I would think probably not.

[GillyHen]

yes but do they flourish and produce masses of fruit...

[iwantanallotment]

I think it may prove too humid for them, Gillyhen.
They tend to do very well without and I've never seen a commercial strawberry field under plastic/in polytunnels, which I'm sure they would be if it was beneficial 

[Salmo]

You need to come over this way where you will see acres of nasty polytunnels over strawberries. Also big business in Herefordshire.

[woodburner]

I think the cloches are for starting the season earlier rather than extra warmth in summer. Too much warmth and humidity will surely encourage botrytis and the like (mould).

[paintedlady]

I can see the merits of having them under cover, but don't forget the flowers will also still need a pollinator.  Cold frames are probably easier to adjust temperature & humidity (that is, just open/close the lid) than using a cloche, but with so many varieties on the market, you can have different ones for an early crop right through to a later crop without having to mess around with a cold frame (and you could use that for something that likes a bit more shelter instead)   

[Trillium]

IWAA is right, it would get too humid and hot for strawberries in a cold frame all summer. They much prefer cooler weather and all mold problems occur during warm months (and in cold frames). The snow here had only started to disappear 2 weeks ago when  I noticed my strawberry plants greening up and putting on new leaves despite freezing night temperatures.

[GillyHen]

thanks folks! I will dig them up and find a better spot to move them to, while saving the cold-frame-to-be for lettuce, I think