Strawberry plants

they are ok 3 to a basket they are bred to be cramped ./what counts is making sure they get enough food and moisture .when you plant them out over fill with compost and then dont water the top but put the whole basket in a washing up bowl and allow the compost to soak the water upwards for an hour or so as it then drains the small roots will follow the flow of the water and open themselves out in the soil , feed a liquid manure feed once a week  but remember to take them down to do it in the washing up bowl once more .the idea is to get the roots of the plants to spread out all through the basket .if you continually water the surface you actually wash soil off the root stem  many folks make the mistake of just sticking a hose pipe in the top and letting the water run through thinking that they are fine if they flood water . but they arent as the water will just flow to the fastest and lowest point to escape