[oldtimer]

can i plant strawberries plant now ready for next year iv just got new allotment cleared to start planting
thanks
george

[muntjac]

yes you can .. they wont come to much but they wil be ok ..

[richyrich7]

Apply a dressing of super phosphate, this will help them get a good root system for next year.  

[londongardener]

What is super phosphate ?

Also has anyone ever tried to grow strawberries with black polythene underneath and if so a) where did you get it from and b) was it a good idea ?

[muntjac]

http://www.gardenhealth.thebluecube.com/product/10/80

all the details can be found here

[richyrich7]

Never tried them on black plastic, to be honest I think they would do better planted through weed control fabric. Rain will seep through the weed control fabric but will pool and lay on plastic, but please bear in mind any kind of membrane/plastic can make a nice hiding place for slugs etc. will stop runners rooting,& make feeding difficult.
Why not try straw ? burn it off at the end of the year, clears it away kills the bugs and diseases

[londongardener]

Apparently you are meant to plant them on a mound of soil covered by black plastic so the water runs off.

Would newspapers work do you think to kill weeds ?  Ie you make a hole in the paper for the plant but nothing else can grow ?

[richyrich7]

Apparently you are meant to plant them on a mound of soil covered by black plastic so the water runs off.

Would newspapers work do you think to kill weeds ?  Ie you make a hole in the paper for the plant but nothing else can grow ?

It's traditional to plant them on ridges I suppose it helps keep the fruit clean and airy to prevent mould etc, yes newspaper would work you would probably need to use a whole paper dunk it in water to soak it first then lay it down I have seen this method used in chase organics " the organic allotment" though I have never tried it. Don't forget it won't last forever  

I'm not to keen on plastic as a long term mulch, always think that large areas of it might inhibit the soil getting air the microbes need to breath too!   and sugs and bugs hide under it.