Strawberries

Question 1

Strawberries.

General.

Answer 1

Herbaceous plants, usually only grown for maximum of three years.
Short useful life.
Suitable for containers.
Only use certified plants.
With protection eg. cloches, it is possible to have strawberries for an extended season.

Question 2

Strawberries.

Form.

Answer 2

Summer fruiting - June and July.
Autumn fruiting - July to first frosts.

Runners will root if left attached to the plant.

Question 3

Strawberries.

Planting

Answer 3

Best grown in vegetable garden because of the need to replace plants regularly.
Plant June - Sept, 40-50cm apart, rows 75 cm apart.
Plants grown in pots can produce fruit the following year.
Runners should have the flowers removed the following year to make plants stronger.
Planting strawberries through black plastic keeps fruit clean, less likely to rot and acts as mulch.

Question 4

Strawberries.

Aftercare.

Answer 4

Cover plants in February with a cloche for fruit in May.
Remove unwanted runners.
Protect fruit from splashes of soil with straw, black plastic or strawberry mats.
After harvesting cut back to 10cm from crown (burn debris and straw mulch).
Fertilise after cutting back with Growmore or high potash fertiliser.

Question 5

Summer fruiting strawberries.

Answer 5

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