[garddwr]

Hello all ,

During the T+M free post weekend I ordered 30 bare root irresistible strawberry plants for £20,

They have arrived this morning not to sure what to make of the quality as this is my first time ordering plants by post or bare root for that matter.

So what should I do with them now ? I haven't prepared the soil yet - do I need to and how ? Can they be planted out or would they benifit from being potted into single plastic pots and planted out say April ?
 

I would be grateful of any suggestions

Thanks
G

[noshed]

If your bed isn't ready they will be happy in pots for a while. Leave them outside though, they don't need any heat.

[Lardman]

Pop them in some water for an hour or so to rehydrate them, then into 3inch pots to make sure they survive, once you see life kick them out onto the plot.

They may look really bad but should be fine.

[Ma and Pa Snip]

Quite tough little blighters in terms of making sure they get roots in the ground.

Follow the advice you've been given by noshed and lardman and you should be ok.

[TerryB]

They can be potted up and put outside, but if you want some early (about 3 weeks) you can keep some in a greenhouse, in larger pots/grow bag and the plant then in the summer. Some say you shouldn't let them fruit the 1st year but I always do and it doesn't seem to effect later years growth.

[Debz]

Mine just arrived this morning.  Looking forward to some really tasty strawbs this summer

[savbo]

They have arrived this morning not to sure what to make of the quality as this is my first time ordering plants by post or bare root for that matter.

i think that if there's any sign of green on them they'll be fine... only worry if there's no signs of life

[garddwr]

Thanks for all of your replies They should survive then !

Mine just arrived this morning.  Looking forward to some really tasty strawbs this summer

Me too Debz, which varieties are you growing ?

If your bed isn't ready they will be happy in pots for a while. Leave them outside though, they don't need any heat.

How should I prepare the bed ? And also it says on the leaflet that came with them to plant 45 cm aparts in rows 75cm apart :O Is this too much ? What do you recommend ?

Thanks again

[Debz]

Irresistable from T&M after some recommendation on this site.

[DD.]

I've got 75 of them on the patio from runners off my 36 plants on the plot. (For my use, so I can do this).

Hoping for a good summer!

[rhysdad]

I planted my 'extend the season' strawberry runner collection on a prepared (manured and dug over) bed on the lotty. I put them in on a thin bed of bonemeal in the planting hole and left them to it. Last night i popped down the plot to check them and the blumming cats have dug some of them up!! They were on top of the soil, roots to air and all. I popped them back in so we'll see how they fare. The others have taken well though with new shoots popping up nicely....

[JayG]

Not mentioned my single, heroic Albion strawberry plant for a while ( ).

Last year was its first full year after planting the previous autumn and it produced loads of big juicy strawberries on and off all summer and into autumn, and I now have 30 young plants from runners which it also managed to produce, half of which I have given away due to lack of space.

I'm thinking of giving it a, um, permament rest on the assumption it may be knackered although I'm not sure I've got the heart to do that!

[noshed]

Some of mine are flowering as we speak

[Dreamer@45]

i think that if there's any sign of green on them they'll be fine... only worry if there's no signs of life

Interesting point savbo. Unfortunately the 12 plants I ordered from T&M didn’t survive the winter here down south. The top of my strawberry bed is bursting with life which consists of pot bought plants from a local nursery. I checked the T&m plants a few days ago and noticed the crown was brown and mushy and then on further investigation roots and all. I’d expect a few losses over this past cold winter, But all 12! I’m a little disappointed to be honest as all cultivation info was followed to the letter and lets face it it aint rocket science is it?

Modified to correct quote

[bigben]

I got some irresistible from T&M in October and planted them only to have that artic November. I thought some of had died off but have been really pleased to see new growth in the last couple of weeks on plants where all the leaves had died. As someone else said they are tough little beggars.