strawberry question

mardatha

I was given strawbs last summer, they're in two long windowboxes. Last year they did ok, we got fruit off them. This year they look to be good again. My question is - how to get a lot more fruit next year and give them a better place with more room to grow ?
I want next year to use several one-ton builders bags, one for potatoes;one for strawbs; one for salad veg, and one for onions/leeks. When can I move these plants ? After fruiting, or wait until next spring?

annie123

Peg down the runners they should be putting out soon into any bit of nearby soil, doesn't matter how squashed in they are at the mo, they will root and then you have free extra plants

Allowing for where you are, I'd move them as soon as they have stopped fruiting and the runners have rooted, but get it done by March so they have time to settle in before they flower.

They need very little soil, so only fill the bag to a shallow depth otherwise it's wasted money on the soil.
I've got one planted that rooted itself it the wall in my garden, can only be an inch of soil its sitting in but lots and lots of strawbs
Dont forget to feed them with some tomato feed if poss before they flower;)

cootambear

I planted some in sand covered in gravel. They must live on sun, rain and fresh air

mardatha

Brilliant elp thanks. I didnt know about not too much soil - I'd have wasted a ton of compost if you hadnt said that
They did stay outside, uncovered, in those wee windowboxes all winter. And we hit -18C and had a lot of snow cover, so maybe they're tougher than we think.

cootambear

They are very winter hardy. The only think they dont like is over watering, so think about drainage.