Wilkinsons Strawberry plants

Andy315

In February in bought 3 packs of strawberry plants fro wilkinsons and over a 3 week period they have just died , I bought another 2 packs in march and by this time the plants had 3 - 4 logish green shoots with leaves but after planting and keeping them in the house they too are now beginning to turn brown and die .
I also bought a rubarb plant not 2 weeks ago from the same shop and that too is wilting & dieing and i just dont know why ?
They have all been kept in the house , not over watered nore dried out, i have some other seedling doing extremely well in the same place so it's not like the plant have been too cold or anything ..
My grandfather suggests that the plants have been in the frost before being delivered and is why they have all taken 2-3 weeks to die but the latter strawberry plants had green shoots ..
And , before anyone suggest the wrong soil, i planted the first 3 packs in special seedling compost bought at the same time, the last 2 packs of strawberry plants & the rubarb is in John Innes #2 potting on composts.
Anyone know why i'm having a problem ?

pawsies

strawberry plants do die and then regenerate again. they are perenial so will come back every year, don't chuck em!

Andy315

Ive still have the 1st 3 packs potted but they are so dry/died that they're just brittle and now have a sligh fungus on them .

Paulish08

Strawberries tend to survive much better out of doors as they are generally frost hardy.

Andy315

i tried that with the 1st 3 packs putting them out during the day as at the time it although a bit chilly it was 'fairly' sunny then brining them in at night but, as they all started going brown i thought that the 'cold' had got at them, but they have just gone completely dead so with the last 2 packs i kept them inside but they seem to be going to the great garden in the sky also .

DaftyDuck

They are hardy garden plants, not house plants. They should have gone out as soon as you got them, snow, frost, gales and all. I don't think I've ever ( in 30 years gardening) lost strawberry plants to the winter weather. Drying out and over watering, yes. TLC certainly.

If you get some more, plant them out in the garden as soon as you get them... at most, take 2 or 3 days to "harden them off", popping them out during the day, then protect them at night.

If they'd got frost before you bought them they'd (1) be fine, and (2) if REALLY severe frost to minus 20, they'd never have looked green in the first place.

All isn't lost for this year... there should be some patio strawbs coming to Wilko (and Aldi / Lidl) in the next month or two. They'll fruit all summer, and overwinter just fine.

Good luck next time.

deacon1542

To be honest it is probably buying them from Wilko's as they have been inside, outside, inside etc I don't think this has done them any good. Plus at this time of year with the weather as it is, it is probably better to wait a month and then buy them and put straight outside. Also if there is white mould growing on the ones you have that would sound like they have got to wet, also inside your home is a very dry atmosphere, not good for plants at all...even houseplants!

Leif

I would assume the warm indoors killed them. I have some young strawberries in small pots outside, and ones from last year in beds and a container, all look healthy.

DaftyDuck

Leif wrote: »

I would assume the warm indoors killed them. I have some young strawberries in small pots outside, and ones from last year in beds and a container, all look healthy.

... and, by the way, Leif, my rhubarb is up and sprightly again after its flattening experience.

Leif

DaftyDuck wrote: »

... and, by the way, Leif, my rhubarb is up and sprightly again after its flattening experience.

Thanks for putting my mind at rest. Sounds like it wears a leotard with an SR on the front.