strawberry re-shuffle

fletch · « **on:** July 14, 2007, 21:47 »

I have loads (and I mean loads) of strawberry plants all over my allotment, but there is one bed in particular that seems to have been devoted to being a strawberry bed.
Unfortunately this year it has been overgrown with weeds and the crop was plentiful but poor in quality due to damage (I didn't get a chance to "straw" them).
I really want to clear the bed, de-weed it and start again with all these lovely plants. When is the best time to do this?

Btw, if anybody wants some free plants / runners etc in the process, I've got tons, so give me a shout!

Fletch

Beanzie · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2007, 02:59 »

Do it now. I'd select some of the best young healthy plants and cut off the existing foliage (it will soon regrow). At the same time plant up some of the new runners and this will give you some fresh plants.

Each year thereafter plant up some of the new runners to replace some of the older plants. This should mean that ultimately you have 1, 2, 3 and 4 year old plants. I wouldn't keep any longer than 4 years and some people would advocate not keeping any longer than 3 years

Beanzie · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2007, 03:05 »

I should have added that as you plant fresh runners each year use a different spot at the end of the bed. So over time the plants "walk" along the bed. ( plant new runners at one end and dig up the old plants at the other end)

Strawberry bed - Strawberry sawfly Started by R0b1et on Grow Your Own	0 Replies 850 Views	October 04, 2023, 13:12 by R0b1et
Strawberry Started by mdjlucan on Grow Your Own	2 Replies 1259 Views	June 05, 2016, 17:14 by Yorkshire Lass
new strawberry bed Started by richardoram on Grow Your Own	8 Replies 2400 Views	January 27, 2009, 17:16 by RichardA
strawberry Started by moomoos42 on Grow Your Own	4 Replies 1461 Views	January 29, 2011, 10:34 by ex-cavator