Gardening jobs you can do in August

havekidsamskint

Strawberries: Peg down strawberry runners from new plants into the soil or pots of compost to root. Shear off the foliage just above the crown of each plant and clear away any debris. Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners.

Hi Strawberry newbie here,

I've read the advice but not sure what it means. I have a strawberry planter tub with holes at the sides and strawberries growing out. The fruit is finished and I don't know what to do now with the leaves and how much to cut them back, also do I just leave them out over the winter, it weighs a ton so I doubt if I could move it.

thanks in advance for the advice

annie123

saverstacey wrote: »

I would love to plant some mini bulbs for xmas pressies- do I have to buy the 'prepared' ones? they are v expensive compared to the 'unprepared'. I was reading something about preparing your own by putting them in the fridge?

I have only planted prepared ones, they are usually available at my local garden center and not expensive when on offer, but I have known others who have chilled bulbs in the fridge for a month then planted and placed in a cool corner of the garden.


taken from hints and things website:

Put some potting compost or well soaked bulb fibre into a pot leaving enough space to allow the bulbs to be placed inside with the tips just below the rim of the container.
They should be placed close together but not touching.
Cover with compost or bulb fibre and water well.
The container should then be placed in a cool spot such as a shed or bury it in a shady corner of the garden.
Contrary to some beliefs darkness is not essential, however, coolness is.
Do not put in a black plastic sack as this encourages mold.
After 10-12 weeks young green shoots should appear (these will be paler if the pot has been kept in the dark). When the shoots have reached about 5 cms. (2 ins) in height bring the pot into a cool room and they should flower in time for Christmas

hth

annie123

havekidsamskint wrote: »

Strawberries: Peg down strawberry runners from new plants into the soil or pots of compost to root. Shear off the foliage just above the crown of each plant and clear away any debris. Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners.

Hi Strawberry newbie here,

I've read the advice but not sure what it means. I have a strawberry planter tub with holes at the sides and strawberries growing out. The fruit is finished and I don't know what to do now with the leaves and how much to cut them back, also do I just leave them out over the winter, it weighs a ton so I doubt if I could move it.

thanks in advance for the advice

• As you have a strawberry planter I would pull out any plants that did not produce many fruits this year and compost them,that will give you some free holes,
• coming off the other plants should be runners..long trialling stems with a few leaves. push/wedge them into the free holes. this gives you new plants for free for next year.
• do not cut the stems yet I cut mine in about 8 weeks from now, gives them time to root.
• Now the other original plants that you have need a couple of things done to them.
• locate where the plant goes into the soil, if they were in a bed I would earth up a little just like you do with spuds but as yours are in a pot you can either carefully remove them and replant 1" or so deeper or build up the earth round them if space allows or I have watched a friend push them in an inch, which did work.
• next carefully cut away anything up to 50% of the leaves leaving the new leaves and the crown (the stem bit you found sticking out of the ground) the plant gets more light and produces a better crop next year.

BBC link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_strawberries2.shtml

they are very hardy and will be fine outside, I have never lost any to even a bad frost.
hope that helps