[plot53b]

Hi All,

I've done a very silly thing and potted up 36 bare rooted strawberry plants on Sunday. I went away and have no greenhouse so asked my OH to put the trays in the shed. I've checked today and they are all frozen solid along with a few garlic I had potted up.

My question is, is that it - have I killed them all? I have put the trays in the conservatory now.

Thanks in hope!

[DD.]

Strawberries are as tough as old boots and will sit outside in frozen ground for weeks on end.

[gavinjconway]

As DD says - They will be fine so put them back outside... They grow in Scotland --- enough said!!  

[Paul Plots]

I'd have left them outside. Be careful they don't get too warm in the conservatory - warm humid conditions could cause mould / mildew something horrid to develop on and around the leaves'n stalks.

Outside they'll be fine.... believe DD he knows.

[solway cropper]

Tough little bu****s to kill. A couple of years ago I pegged down some runners into 4 inch pots and just left them on the soil surface. They survived -18.

[angelavdavis]

Strawberries are bred from plants that were originally alpines, so they have tough.  In fact, I believe they need a cold snap in order to fruit in summer, so I wouldn't worry about them, aside from a few brown leaves, they should survive.

[richyrich7]

Cold is necessary to get the best fruiting out of them, so yes they'll be fine. Put them outside and bring them into your conservatory in early March if you want an earlier crop.

When you planted them the crown should have been at or a fraction above soil level, that's worth checking as you can loose them to rot if their crown is buried. Water from underneath when in pots 

[plot53b]

Thanks all for the great advice (sorry for the delay in replying, unexpected business trip).

They seem to have defrosted OK, I have them in my fly away greenhouse now, no heat, but a little protection from the wind and elements. I'll get them in the ground as soon as my plot dries out a little (it could be some time!!!).

[gavinjconway]

Put the pots outside in the mean time...