[londongardener]

This year my strawberries have been very very disappointing.
It is partly due to a rat problem but could it also be because of something else ?

Some are in the soil some are in containers - the same for all of them.

[DD.]

If they're disappearing - blackbirds love 'em!

[londongardener]

If they're disappearing - blackbirds love 'em!

They did not do much last year - bother I will need some more cd scarers.
But some plants have had no strawberries at all and other fruit eg gooseberries etc have been left untouched.

[londongardener]

PS would growing catnip help deter rats and birds ?
(Just keep inside the rest of the year).

[Bernard]

Mine didn't crop much either. I can't see any reason.

[jacnal]

Are these strawbs in their first/second year? Apparently the first year (or 2) can be slow then the third/fourth is good. I'm no expert though, just what I think I may have heard. And I just may be remembering wrong too :? .

My strawberries produced masses of fruit this year but it only lasted a few weeks and there's absolutely nothing now. They must be at least 3 years old - inherited them with the plot last year and they were planted at least 2 years (or more) before I got the plot. No one can remember. I feel I ought to take runners and rotate their site as they look really old and rusty and ancient. Any ideas anyone?

[Yorkie]

Strawberries aren't long-lived plants, only 3-4 years before production really drops off. Try taking runners for next year if the plants are getting on a bit in years.

[gobs]

Only netting will protect your crop from birds, won't exclude rodents though, have to deal with that separately.

Apart from the years mentioned they need rich soil and a lot of water for good cropping, losing all runners will help too, saying all that variety is also important not all will be heavy croppers.