Can you help me plan a strawberry bed, please?

JulieD - so you've planted runners in this weather? I'd love to see that!
Yes, I've wondered if I'm over-fert'ing my strawberry plants with organic goodness. I don't know if it's because most of them were in their first year. However, I have thought to put some strawb' plants in the ground to compare. It will be an interesting year!

 

FatBoy, I havent planted any strawberries this month but I will be growing from seed this month. I put mine into the ground in the autumn and spring.

 

I love your videos - esp. the strawberry video.
I'm thinking I'm maybe killing my plants with too much organic stuff and a more lean bed is appropriate.

 

Thanks Fatboy, hoping this year will bring more of the same.

 

H.I. planted both single crop and multiple crop strawberries last year which was a good idea.

 

I planted strawberry varieties Maxim and Maestro in the tunnel late in 2011, to try for an early crop in 2012. They were planted into a rotovated mix of rotted FYM and soil, with a bit of general purpose fertiliser. Even with leaky hose under the geotextile, it was a nightmare trying to keep them watered once the weather warmed up! They were perhaps 2 weeks earlier than the plants outside, the only real advantage being protection for the fruit from birds and slugs.
I replanted them outside in a new bed with 6 other varieties last year, so we'll see what arrives this year....
If your strawbs don't produce well, FB, it certainly won't be through lack of preparation They're spoilt!

 

We had ours outside under perspex and they came out about three weeks earlier than otherwise.