[Kajazy]

Hi all,

I'm just trying to plan a new strawberry bed that I intend to put in in March/April time. Are all the runners you can buy from the various suppliers at that time 'cold-stored' do you know? From what I can understand, it's only the cold-stored runners planted in spring that will produce fruit in their first year. Or have I got that completely wrong?!

Any wisdom on the subject of strawberry runners greatly appreciated... 

[3 allotments]

Hi as far as i know im under the impression that they all fruit fifrst year cold stored or not i could be wrong,im sure somebody on here will be along shortly to tell you different  .darren

[gavinjconway]

I harvested runners, planted them in pots to overwinter, planted them in spring and had a great crop. Strawbs seem to grow and produce no matter what - they are tough as old boots.

[Auntiemogs]

With the volumes that they must sell, I would imagine that yes, they are cold stored.

I just stick mine in 3" pots and they overwinter outside with no problems as they are very hardy.

The crop in the first year will not be as high as with established plants, but they should crop. 

[Nobbie]

I think there are two types of cold stored plants, young plants that will give a light crop and more established crowns that will give a bigger crop. There was a TV programme recently where they used the cold stored established crowns to give a crop at the end of summer. For young plants I think they send out untreated until march/april, and then hold them in cold storage for later deliveries.