[Elmarto]

Evening all

I was wondering how everyone overwinter their strawberries. I only have 6 plants planted in spring, I have cut back the foliage and the runners. Is it advisable to mulch with manure? I was aware if crown rot and I wouldn't like this to happen!

Many thanks

[Mrs Bee]

I just cut mine back and leave them to their own devises until spring.
They seem pretty hardy and if left to theor own devises will take over the garden as I found this year.

Strawberry plants everywhere and some of them have decided to growm some strawberries.

[Elmarto]

I'll let them be then and see what they do next year, hopefully lots of strawberries, it's just keeping little hands off them that's the next problem!

[gavinjconway]

Yep - just leave them to do their own thing. They love the cold - unlike humans!! Did you get some runners from them? If you did you can plant them on now into their final placings.. dig them up with as much soil as possible and plant in their new rows.. Feed in the Spring..

[Elmarto]

I had plenty of runners but I did try to keep on top of them, I planted a pumpkin next to them and didn't realise how big they got so a couple of runners managed to root! I also think we had mouse who ate a few fruits!

I will keep them uncovered and maybe mulch with manure!

[willp]

In October, cut them hard back and pull out all the rubbish and mulch, weed the bed and give them a bit of a feed.

Kettle on.

Admire tidy bed over tea.

Will

[gavinjconway]

In October, cut them hard back and pull out all the rubbish and mulch, weed the bed and give them a bit of a feed.

Kettle on.

Admire tidy bed over tea.

Will

October finished...       and he did cut them down..

[angelavdavis]

I wouldn't worry too much with strawberries.  When I took over an overgrown garden in London, the strawberry runners were 20 foot long!  I took the newer plants from the runners and replanted them - they were great strawberries!  My only regret was not taking runners from them and bringing them with me when I moved!

[Yana]

I removed the brown and messy looking leaves from my strawbs but should i have removed more than this?

[angelavdavis]

I removed the brown and messy looking leaves from my strawbs but should i have removed more than this?

I usually remove all the leaves after flowering, other than the leaves just about to appear from the centre of the plant.  It doesn't really matter, you have removed the damaged/dead/diseased foliage which discourages slugs and keeps viruses at bay.

[gavinjconway]

Yana - you the old red and brown leaves so that is fine.. i.e. the bigger leaves must come off leaving the smaller ones.. Dont worry too much as they are quite at home sorting themselves out.

[Trillium]

I never got around to removing the leaves off my strawberry plants last year as I'd fallen, cracked my heel and was in a cast. Come spring the plants did very well even though I'd even forgotten to feed them after fruiting. But I can't ignore them this spring when I'll give them a light liquid manure feed early in the season and thin them out a bit. They're so thick I haven't anywhere to place my feet.  It's also time to take the youngest runners and start a new bed elsewhere.

[gavinjconway]

Yep - as i said before they are a plant that just get on with growing so not too much problem if you dont trim them.. My late FIL in Scotland had a veg plot for 30 odd years and he just got hedge shears and chopped everything off  when fruiting was over... he was careful not to cut the crowns tho. 

[DD.]

I take a sickle to mine!

[gavinjconway]

I'd probably do injury to my toes with mine - it's soooo long and bulky      but a good idea DD