[Carollan]

I hadn`t realised that my strawberry runners which I propagate each year will probably have virus as well as the main plants.When I listened to gardener`s QT they said buy new plants every 3 years to make sure you have virus free plants.

Well,if I grow from bought packet seed in new compost,would that make the plants virus free ?
I know I can do it,I grew 2 varieties from seed a couple of years ago,fiddly but very possible.

What do you think?

[TheSpartacat]

Do your strawberry plants actually have a virus? If so, which one?
I propagate runners from healthy plants. If your plants are healthy, there's no need to start afresh.
I have heard that germination of strawberry can be slow.

[Trillium]

Buying new ones every 3 years is only a suggestion for virus free plants should you happen to have viruses in your existing plants.

Strawbs are pretty hardy and not many people get viruses in theirs. But it might be a good idea every 10 years or so to bring in new plants to ensure continued garden health rather than continually use your own runners.

But, if you keep a close eye on your plants and don't see problems, then replacing them is not a must-do task. As long as you remember that a strawberry plant's peak output is at 3 years then its downhill after that and you'll want to dispose of these plants by binning.

oops, forgot. Seed grown strawbs are very easy and fast. Start them in Dec-Jan and you'll have a young plant for spring. It will still need 2 summers to fruit fully.

[joiner]

hi,

any advice on growing strawberrys in a container.  can you do it?
                                                                                 

[gobs]

Tomato feed is recommended and you will need to water a lot, but yes, of course.

[kosh42|EFG]

Most of the plots on our allotment have strawberry plants that have been passed back and forth from runner for many, many years. And they all had lovely crops last year...