Strawberry Problems

Well. Now I'm completely baffled I bought a strawberry tower thing. I've put it together and planted the strawbs in it. (Normal multi-purpose compost) It had special water-retaining pillows in the bottom. After a week the plants look great but they're not supposed to have too much water?? Why the water-retaining pillows?

 

To keep them MOIST rather than waterlogged or too dry. If the container (or soil in a garden) is too wet there is a risk of rot. Container grown plants will dry out unless regularly watered and the water retaining gell helps prevent this.

 

Thanks, Dave:gnthb:

 

I have to say i'm a fairly useless gardner at the mo (i am learning though hence this forum! lol)
I started with some strawberries last year in one of theose strawberry pot thingies and they have done so very well!!
I initially started with the strawberry plant in the main hole at the top and then put several different herbs in the side holes. The other herbs were all annuals so as they died off, i even learnt to use the runners to start new plants - it was easier than i thought and i was so very proud of my little self!! he he he!! In auntumn i just pulled off a few dead stems but left all the rest. Didn't cover them so they were subjected to snow and frost - the lot. This year they have sprung to life! Even a flower appearing on the initial plant i had.

 

Well, now I'm completely confused! Want to start my own strawberries this Spring, but now don't know whether to grow in pots or in the bed, indoors or in the g/house, pot in soil, peat compost or peat-free, feed or not! Ah well, will just buy some plants and experiment; the worst that could happen os that they will end up in the compost bin!!

Andy

 

Only one way to get a proper crop, "OUTDOORS IN BEDS".

Let the experts grow them in pots etc.

Mine in pots in the greenhouse now have lots of flowers on them, so have the ones outdoors.

It would appear this year anyway, that it has been no advantage wasting time and effort growing them in pots as they are as advanced outdoors as indoors, and anyway I never get very many off the potted ones.

Cheers!

 

I agree with Makka Bakka. If you want LOTS of strawberries an outdoor bed is the best bet.

 

Hi MB (from the "night garden" I think:wink and Man. The reason we don't grow things in outside beds is that we have small gardens. Hence the need to grow Strawbs, Blueberries, Apples, Plums et.al. in pots and containers and the need for advice to be able to do this. I live in the New Forest and there are more allottments in Southampton than here. Daft, isn't it

 

:thmb: Great thread, this has given me plenty of food for thought! I'm interested in growing some strawberries, i might give them a go in a strawberry planter since everything needs to be movable this year for me....unless i want to leave them all behind when we move....which ofcourse i dont!!!! :dh:

 

Hi, I called into my allotment as I was passing this evening.
On checking my straws, I find that some had green berries on them, also on checking the ones in pots in my friends greenhouse they still had not formed berries, exactly the same with the ones in my own greenhouse!

Daft,isn't it! I would have expected the GH lots to be more advanced!

Cheers!

 

Well, the Strawbs are doing fine. As they're in a container thing, would it be a good idea to rotate the container evey now and again. Just so they all get a taste of the sun. South facing garden!!

 

Hello!!

This is my second year of growing strawberries in a pot. I used multi-purpose compost mixed with Perlite, added some (But not too much) Ericaceous compost & then mixed in some grit. I then feed them with a tomato feed once a week once fruits appear, but I used rain water if poss & not tap water. I give them a very weak feed of Sequestered Iron once a year & thats it!!

I water them daily before the sun too hot, or last thing in eve.

I know it sounds strange that I put in some Ericaceous, but It was recommended & I get a good crop of strawberries.

Claire:gnthb:

 

I've grown strawberries in pots for years. I don't do anything special with them at all and generally get a decent crop from them. I've some in a 'strawberry planter' a couple in a little plastic pedestal pot and some in a raised bed (first time I've grown them in the ground). The strawberry plant in the pedestal pot already has flowers and little berries forming.
I water them - when I remember or they look like they need a drink (I know I shouldn't but with a toddler helping I tend to forget what I've watered and what I've not). I use the cheapest multi-purpose compost, they're left to the elements all year round and usually eaten straight off the plant as soon as they're ready by the kids - I got 1 last year, lol.
Last year my mum had terrible problems with hers both in beds and planters but the heavy rain probably helped, this year they're potted up and doing really well and looking healthy.

 

Last year I put mine in a raised bed with a mix of clay soil from the garden and compost. They did very well, and we had a bumper crop. They were not too wet nor dry, and I just watered them when the soil looked particularly dry.

This year I am trying hanging baskets with nothing special in it, just normal compost... no problems so far.. will keep you posted.

To be honest, ignoring them and watering them when they look like they need it worked for me.