[J_B]

Hi was offered some strawberries from a neighbouring plot and hey were so sweet...making me thing about growing my own...what is the best time of the year to buy some...is it too late now....any advise and tips appreciated.

[AlaninCarlisle]

I'm just relocating some of mine this week

[surbie100]

If you're buying them and you want strawberries this time of year, check that the variety will do that for you. About a quarter of mine are some sort of everbearer and still have berries ripening.

Do none of your plot neighbours have runners you could buy/swap for?

[GYO Girl]

Do none of your plot neighbours have runners you could buy/swap for?

Two years ago my mum bought me a strawberry plant.  Within a couple of months it started to produce runners, which I potted on.  The babies then started to produce runners..... you get the idea.  Now I have an entire bed of strawberries from that one plant, and have run out of room for any more!  I have had an amazing crop this year, and all from that one original plant.  Great value for money! Surely someone on your site must have one runner they could let you have/buy?  One would be enough to get you started. 

Now is the perfect time to be potting them up, you're not too late :-)

[J_B]

i prob. can but when im at the lottie most of my neighbours are not there...so checking if 1. the time is fine to plant for next year 2. ideas as to where best to get the plants.

[gobs]

They are usually planted in the winter time, or now will do, if you get some spare offsets. Nurseries won't supply you till Dec-Feb time. Any good nursery, let that be local or on-line will do.

[Auntiemogs]

You could try your local Freecycle too J_B. 

[Kristen]

i prob. can but when im at the lottie most of my neighbours are not there...so checking if 1. the time is fine to plant for next year 2. ideas as to where best to get the plants.

If you are buying you might want to consider some different varieties from Early-to-Late, and some everbearers.  I bought 5 of each variety (which was the first price break ) and gave me a modest crop first year. I planted the bed so that the varieties stretch the whole length, so gaps between each variety in the first year, and then used the runners to bulk up and plant into the gaps at the end of the first season to have a full bed the second year.

I planted them in flowering order so that I can net that area of the bed after flowering finished and as fruiting starts (I'm using a net that is too small for pollinating insects)

Ken Muir has a good name and range, but there are lots of suppliers to choose from
www.kenmuir.co.uk

[gobs]

If you want us to overpower you with a bewilderment of choice, one of my favourites is Mae.

But indeed, as Kristen says, buy for succession, if a fancier.

[Willow_Warren]

Thanks for the reminder - I should tidy up my strawberries - cut off or pot up the runners!

I will add it to my list of things to do 

Hannah

[AlaninCarlisle]

I've just potted up over 60 runners that had rooted into the gravel surrounding their bed in the polytunnel. Will probably have to give them away as I have enough plants but I'm sure someone will be grateful for them