best co mpost for strawberries

first of all, hiya to you all.

i am very new to gardening so a few newby questions.

i have just bought a strwaberry barrel for 36 strawberry plants!

questions:

1:what is best compost to use
2:what are best strawberrys to use for july planting
3:what fertilizer is best
4:can anyone give me any tips please

thanks to you all in advance.... Andy

 

Can't really answer that .. but you might like to look at the Ken Muir site. I bought a couple of tower pots of that company at a Chelsea Flower Show many years ago, and they shipped plants that have been "conditioned" (in cold store or somesuch) to be able to be planted and fruit that year.

My outdoor Strawberries have pretty much finished, but given that Chelsea is in May, and it took a few weeks for my order to be processed, I reckon it was early June, or later, that they arrived.

Just had a look at their site - should have done that before typing! - here's what it says:

http://www.kenmuir.co.uk/productsRange.php?catID=24&subID=46

"Frozen plants are available from March/April to late July. These will fruit within 60 days, provided they are planted outdoors between May and July. If planted before May they will crop within 90 days."

 

feed well with tomato feed(read it in a mag) and water regularly

 

"feed well with tomato feed"

Do well :thumb:

But if smiffyuk2003 doesn't have Toms then getting the proprietary Strawberry Fertilizer from Ken Muir, along with the plants, and anything else Mr Ken can relieve hard earned cash for! is probably a reasonable approach

 

nope dont have toms, not yet anyway.

ill have another shop round and see what i come up with. thnks for your replys, any more tips would be great, thanks

 

Also mix perlite into your compost to help retain moisure. Also add some grit too to help drainage. Only feed with tomato food when you get flowers. When you get your new strawberry plants they may give you a few fruits this year. They will provide you with loads in their second year.

Mine are in a tower for their second year & are fruiting like mad!!

 

i see, well anything i get this year is a massive bonus, im just looking forward to next year, already ha ha. thanks for your help