[lazza]

Well, having arrogantly thought I had got the hang of growing strawberries, I've been brought back down to earth this year!

Previously, my bed of strawberries has been very prolific. The first bed I had produced 15-20lb of fruit each year for 3 years, before I potted up some of the runners, and made a new bed (having read that you only get good yields for 3-4 years, backed up by a lower quantity in the third year on the plants I had). Planted out the new strawberries a couple of years back, and got about 3-4lb the first year, before getting back to 18lb last year. Then... nothing!

What's gone wrong?!

I've posted two photos taken last year and this year.... spot the difference!!

Most of the plants seem to have died, and those that have survived have only produced a few small leaves and hardly any flowers. I have one strawberry developed so far, which is about the size of a pea!!

Would welcome any advice on what has gone wrong, and what to do next (presumably dig the whole lot out and buy some new plants...?)

[surbie100]

I'd check for weevils and larvae under the crowns.

[Lardman]

It has to be something in the soil looking at the growth or lack of it.  Whip one out and see if there are any nasties in there, how did you condition the soil before planting?

[lazza]

The current plants were put in 2 springs ago, so I've had two crops so far - a first crop which I wasn't expecting to be great, and last year's excellent crop.

The bed was prepared late in the autumn before planting with a mixture of roughly 50/50 horse manure and home-produced compost, with a layer of topsoil. I haven't treated or "fed" the bed since then, but neither did I do this with the previous bed I had, which gave 4 good crops.

Will dig one up this evening and have a look.

On the plus side, my raspberries are brilliant this year!

[snowdrops]

How long have the sleepers been down & how old are they?

[lazza]

How long have the sleepers been down & how old are they?

Sorry - been away!

They have been there about 7 years. Out of interest, why do you ask?

Anyway, I found the problem.... weevils! So I have dug out the whole bed (soil, plants, everything) and disposed of it at the local tip. Is it OK to fill back in and plant some new strawberries in the same place, or is it asking for trouble? (I have nowhere else to plant them, so if it's not advisable, that's the end of my strawberry growing!)

[snowdrops]

I asked in case they were the ones with creosote through them, if they were new ones it would not have been allowed.