[aubergine]

Apologies in advance for what I am sure is a stupid question.

I have just put in strawberry plants in a raised bed and plan to cover them with hoops and netting.  Do I have to hold of putting off covering with the netting until after pollinisation or do they self pollinate?

Thanks

Regards

Aubergine

[richyrich7]

Hold off until they start to swell, poor pollination will give you misshapen fruit as will water shortage's

Feed them with tomato food they will love it

[jolly jen]

i wont cover mine until i see the fruit starting to swell.....just starting to flower now

[aubergine]

thanks Richy/Jolly Jen

I will hold off for now.

Regards

Aubergine

[cAnAry53]

Because i have 100s of them i tend to let the birds have some and also because i dont have a special bed for them,i tend to grow  mine as border edging or around the base of fruit trees and bushes.Typical gardener i dont like to throw good plants away even though i get 100s of runners from them each year and struggle to give them away to anybody who wants them.

[realfood]

Most fruit netting should be OK, as it will allow access for the bees, but prevent the birds gaining access.