Tips for growing Stawberries

Cliecost

Hi,

Does anyone have any good tips for growing Strawberries?

They're my 3yr old girls plants but, like the tomatoes, I imagine I will be doing most the work.

They're growing in a large pot full of well fertilised soil outside and I've even got one in an upside down tomatoes grower that I had from last year. I'd be told strawberries can grow upside down.

Thanks for any help.

Linda32

As far as I can see you don't have to do anything more, apart from watering and put a net over the top as the birds like them just as much as we do.

You can buy the green netting at Wilkinsons / supermarkets at this time of the year. Just drape it over the pot and your tomato grower.

HTH and enjoy

Cliecost

I've read that they need fertiliser in the water, is this correct?

fluffymuffy

You could put a load of straw down under them. You can buy it at a pet shop.

I've seen them do this in National Trust gardens. So maybe it's Important?

Perhaps that's why they're called Strawberries.

wallbash

Straw was used to raise the fruit off the ground to protect from mud/slugs. I just use a small piece of card.

I've read that they need fertiliser in the water, is this correct?

Never 'fed' my strawberries , I find them the toughest plant in the garden , they survive nearly everything. The only thing I do is replace a third of the plants every year, ( trying new verities) and at the end of the season a brutal clear up , off with much of the leaves .

A._Badger

You will get better results if you feed them by adding a high potash fertiliser when watering. Personally, I use Phostrogen, which works out a lot cheaper than using pre-made (liquid) tomato fertilisers - the other alternative that will work well, if expensively.

cjb02

keep well watered and netted as stated previously.
Otherwise they will dry out and the birds will eat them.

feeding does improve crop quantity with out a doubt.

Cliecost

I've put a cage around them to keep the birds out. At the moment I've used some of the straw I use for my guinea pigs.

Cliecost

Can strawberries be grown upside down?

I put mine in yesterday. The buds are already pointing up and the leaves have half turned too but will it work?

TonyMMM

Cliecost wrote: »

Can strawberries be grown upside down?

I put mine in yesterday. The buds are already pointing up and the leaves have half turned too but will it work?

Yes it will work - I find they grow pretty well in hanging baskets. The flowers/leaves will point upwards as normal, but once the fruit set and grow the weight will pull them down, and they are easy to pick.

You do need to water and feed regularly though.

DaftyDuck

My tips for strawberry growing... if growing in pots, cut a circle of weed barrier material and grow the plants through it - or place it between the plants & pot if already planted. Keeps the fruit clean, clear of slugs, and reduces rot. Black material also helps keep the plants warm. Placing stones - fist-sized around the plants is a good alternative. Fertilize regularly during the growing season... if possible, water from the bottom (stand in a tray of water) rather than top, prevents marking of fruit, and lowers risk of rot. When flowering, place the plant near other flowering plants to encourage the bees... some of my strawb flowers seem pretty unattractive to insects. To detract birds, you can buy those little windmills from the poundshops, or seaside-type places, and they whizz round colourfully to keep the birds away. Finally, if you can, grow several varieties, or you get a glut over two weeks, followed by a dearth.