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Is it too late to plant strawberries?

ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
in Plants
I intend to replant a strawberry bed with ever bearing strawberries. I could do this in the spring, but an wondering if i could gain a little by planting now? I am weighing this up against loosing them because they are not established when winter comes
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,236
    They'll establish very quickly, assuming you prep the area correctly and water in well. I've just planted out some runners from some of mine to renew stock  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    thank you. I shall give it a go then, I am looking at Mara de Bois, unless there are better varieties. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,236
    I grow Elsanta, which does well here. It's a good cropper, and nice flavour. They crop around July mainly. It's worth having a couple of varieties to give you a bit of a succession.
    I regularly leave very small plants out all winter, in every shade of weather we get. They often look dead, but before you know it- they spring back to life  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Wild strawberries can crop till Christmas if they're happy
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    I have some Mara de Bois in their first full year and the flavour is superb.  They aren't prolific croppers though so you'll need quite a few plants to get a decent picking.  The individual plants don't grow as vigorously as standard varieties, so research the best planting distance for this variety and stick to it.  I think mine are planted too close together but are still flowering and fruiting but with just a dozen plants, there aren't enough fruit all ripe at once to do anything other than eat them straight from the plants. :po:)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    I just took a look and learnt some more. Apparently ever bearers don't continuosly crop but crop twice. Some other varieties crop late or early, apparently Mara Des Bois crops well and has the finest flavour. There is a variety called Anais which apparently has ever bearing qualities. I shall post separately about that .
    Tried to get some but found that sites would only deliver in spring - so leaving it for now. 
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Bob i cross posted with you. 
    Regarding cropping, I have learnt that strawberries need a good mulch in the winter and i also use Growmore which seems to help. This year has not been good for strawberries, I have watered mine almost every day and found the berries smallish. I have a few varieties but in particular  I have a variety from T&M that boasts giant berries - they were are best average. I notice British strawberries in the supermarkets are not big this year too. 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    I agree, it was almost impossible to keep my potted strawberries watered enough this year.  The ones in the ground fared better, but still a poor crop compared to previous years.  All of my fruit plants and trees are looking a bit stressed this year.  Such is the life of a gardener!  :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,341
    This thread caught my eye as I plan to plant some strawberries for the first time.
    I was looking at varieties and have more or less decided on Cirano which is reported as being an 'improved' Mara de Bois
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    HI Pete, I currently have three raised beds of strawberries. If I were to start afresh I would go for three varieties an early a mid and a late season. Make sure you soil is nice and rich - they love that. Otherwise they are dead easy. I have one bed in shade and it is a little late but does well. 
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