[fibilou]

Our Woolies plants are coming on apace and now starting to set flowers. Will I be best off to snip off the flowers to strengthen them for a first crop next year ?

We have just been given another double plot from some friends who are moving. It has a rather overgrown strawberry bed (covered in grass), it didn't produce many berries last year. I would ideally like to get some crop off them this year so any tips for how to rejuvenate them would be appreciated. We will probably dig them up at the end of the year and plant up any runners, then discard the old plants as they are quite elderly.

Also, with mulching, which is the best method ? Plastic, those little mat things or good old fashioned straw ?

[gregmcalister]

I'm in the process of rejuvenating my strawberries. I've prepared a new bed for them and I'll add some manure and compost before moving the plants to their new position this weekend. Apart from that I would keep the weeds down and protect against slugs etc. Then maybe a feed with tomato feed when the fruit starts setting

[Trillium]

Careful not to feed the plants close to fruit setting or you'll get watery fruit.
As for mulching, I've tried lots and finally settled on the old tried and true straw. With any mulch you'll get a few slugs, but straw mats down nicely, holds down weeds and moisture and keeps the berries clean. It doesn't really degrade in this year so you're not getting any nutrient robbery either.