[chili]

i have been give some young strawberry plants in little pots by a neighbour, had them a few weeks now the weather has been too bad to rally do anything.......
question, the roots are begining to come out of the bottom of the pots can i plant the plants and will they survive?

thanks

[viettaclark]

Strawberry plants are pretty tough. If you've had them inside you may need to aclimatise them before planting out although they will probably survive if you mulch the roots to protect them. Repotting and planting out in March is also an option.

[chili]

ah thanks my bad description the plants when i got them i left outside alongside my shed,
so they have survived the frost etc. they are still looking ok in the pots

[DavidT]

As long as they are outside anyway, they may as well be in the ground. BUT, don`t plant them if the ground is waterlogged or frozen.

[johnfh]

I have some irresistable in two planters which I got last autumn and until the recent cold snap they were still producing fruit but none was quite ripe and these now look very sad!  Obviously they are not going to to do anything else this winter.  Should I cut all the immature fruit off plus any runners and a few leaves?  Are these a variety that fruits all summer or are they normally an autumn crop?

[DavidT]

I`d take the fruit off to prevent it rotting and maybe infecting the plant. The runners could also come off to tidy the plants up but I`d keep the leaves on to give the crown some protection.

[chili]

As long as they are outside anyway, they may as well be in the ground. BUT, don`t plant them if the ground is waterlogged or frozen.

not frozen but quite wet and muddy

[DavidT]

I`d be inclined to put them IN the shed for now, then. They`ll keep for months in the pots.

[gillie]

I think the problem with both these strawberry moving questions is 'Can the soil take it?'

Strawberries are going to stay in the same place for several years so you must ensure that the bed is free from perennial weeds.  If it is not already clean is it in a fit state to dig over? If it is nice and clean are you going to compact it by walking on it, or can you reach from a path?

If in doubt, wait.

Gillie

[Paul Plots]

I think the problem with both these strawberry moving questions is 'Can the soil take it?'

Strawberries are going to stay in the same place for several years so you must ensure that the bed is free from perennial weeds.  If it is not already clean is it in a fit state to dig over? If it is nice and clean are you going to compact it by walking on it, or can you reach from a path?

If in doubt, wait.

Gillie

Sounds very good advice to me