Strawberry Runners

TCB1

I have dug out of the ground 32 strawberry runners today all with varying degrees of root growth :j.

They are now in 3" pots but I am not sure what to do with them until next year when I will plant them out (in a planter or hanging baskets, not sure yet).

Do they need to be in a cold frame to protect from frost or will they be ok on the patio?

Thank you!!

generalsoulfly

Strawberries are very hardy plants. I took runners off of my main plants last year and kept them in little pots of my patio, If you remember we did have some very heavy snow over the winter and they were buried under a good few inches yet still all survived so I wouldn't worry too much about them. They will be fine!

s4lvatore

Well I 13 runners all pegged down in a tub that is 62 cm long, by 20 cm accross, by 23 cm deep.

They have all got very bushy in the last month.

Will they be alright in there over the winter or should move them into pots.

Also ( sorry to hijack this ) how close could I put the strawb plants next year? 3 to a flower bucket 10 cm accross?

Linda32

They will be fine on the patio, they will sit happily under snow for a week, if we get any, and whatever frost we have.

Also, three plants to a flower bucket sounds fine to me.

saver_1_2

We had a good few runners last year and we just left them out all Winter unprotected. They have been fine this year

s4lvatore

Thanks for the replies.

So you do not think that so plants in all together aren't too squashed?

saver_1_2

I'm no expert but that does not seem enough space. Can you divide them into more pots to give room for growth as they are still growing

eco

I take mine out of the hanging baskets which they grow really well in, I pot them in seperate pots and cut most of the leaves off, I keep them covered till early spring when I pot them back up, and it works every year, I get rid of some of the older plants and try to start more new ones off to fill the gaps.

forgotmyname

Could depend on the variety, I bought 4 different plants a couple of years ago, Eventually 3 died
but the 4th one thrived, "Sophie" variety.
I dont cover it or anything, Just left it to get on with it, Took 10 Runners last year to put into hanging
baskets. Grows better than the weeds.

morg_monster

mine are in 3" pots and they'll be spending the winter on the patio but right by the house so that hopefully the soil won't freeze solid. I know they are hardy plants but a few people have told me that they won't necessarily survive complete freezing; and I'm too lazy to put them all in a bigger tub for the winter.

saver_1_2

Mine were just left in hanging baskets hooked onto the side of the shed open to all the elements and you know what kind of winter we had.I did cut them right back thou. This year they were as healthy as ever we planted 7 more off runners and gave two to the mother in law and cut around another 5 off