[SpudtheBinx]

Hi, everyone says to replace strawberry plants every few years. Is there a good reason why you can't replace them with ones propogated from runners then? Am I missing the point here? It's just I managed to grow loads of strawberry plants about 10 years ago and it was really easy and wondered if it was ok to do this again?

[WhippetMaster]

I think growing from runners counts as making new plants. I have 4 year old plants that I split last year into three pots.Watch this space!!!
Yield was still good last year

[Trillium]

I grow my crops from runners, buying new only when I haven't enough runners to increase the bed size in some years.

The point of the old advice of buying new plants every few years was that people didn't really understand or want to bother with the strawberry's needs. The plants throw out runners which literally travel elsewhere from the mother plant searching for more fertile ground. The original plant has used up all the nutrients, hence the travelling.

Once the plants have finished fruiting, you must give the plant a haircut with a mower or just hand remove all old leaves which begin turning reddish colour. You then manure the plants well (never before fruiting or you get soft, watery fruit that rots quickly), add more mulch and water through the rest of the summer (unless it's a rainy year). Runners, which are naturally thrown out, can be turned back into the desired plot.

There will be some natural dieback in plants but there's usually loads of runners to take their place.

[londongardener]

Sorry to hijack the threat but I have strawberries growing in a strawberry tower.  Should I mulch them with well rotted manure ?

http://www.garden4less.co.uk/strawberry-planter-tub.asp?partner=hw

But how do I do this.  I think I know what to do with raspberries but these have the surface covered with strawberry plants I can not easily mulch between plants.  Or should take the top ones out, take some soil  out and replace with manure ??

[Trillium]

Londongardener - Your tower plants would already be well rooted and readying for flowering so I'd leave them. You'd be better off making a manure tea for them - after the plants finish fruiting.
Check the search engine above for ways to make manure tea - very easy with fresh manure soaking in a bucket of water for a few weeks then drain off the liquid 'tea'.

[londongardener]

Londongardener - Your tower plants would already be well rooted and readying for flowering so I'd leave them. You'd be better off making a manure tea for them - after the plants finish fruiting.
Check the search engine above for ways to make manure tea - very easy with fresh manure soaking in a bucket of water for a few weeks then drain off the liquid 'tea'.

Thanks for that could I use well rotted manure instead ?

http://www.whatprice.co.uk/advice/gardening/mittleider-fertilizers.html
Says it only needs a few days.

[Trillium]

It would be slightly different in some ways, but old manure would work as well.