New to growing Strawberries

samurphy

Good Morning All,
I hope for a little advice. i recently bought a elevated raised bed 170cm x 60cm x 46cm
i would like to grow some strawberries in it. i have it placed in a nice sunny spot within my garden.
i would appreciate some advice on a soil mixture i should use. i should say i do not have home made compost so i will have to purchase store bought compost.
i was thinking of having the following:
Grit as a base layer
And a mix of compost & top soil. Not too sure if I should be adding horse/farmyard manure also?

BobFlannigon

Hi,

I'm no kind of expert but I believe they need soil high in nutrients, so manure would be good.  I use multipurpose compost and feed them occasionally, they do okay.  My best success this year was an 8 inch pot fitted to the front wall, it produce a decent amount of berries. I'm planning on trying a little harder with them next year.

I don't use any grit, I'm not sure it's necessary. 

Fairygirl

It's surprising how much material you need to fill a bed, so make sure you get plenty!
You wouldn't need grit - I'm assuming the bed is on the ground with reasonable drainage there. Manure is certainly worth having in the mix, along with garden soil or bought in topsoil. You can then add compost and mix it all together. If you don't intend planting it up for a good six months or so, you don't need to worry about the manure being well rotted  [if you have access to fresh stuff] The bags you can buy in GCentres etc can be used and planted into straight away.
They need reasonably fertile conditions to do  well, so you can add a bit of general fertiliser when planting - I use Blood, Fish and Bone, but you can obviously use whatever you like. If you're buying decent sized plants that are potted, they can be put in straight away, and they'll get nicely established before the colder weather

ZeroZero1

Strawberries are easy to grow like many plants they enjoy good soil. I would get hold of some well rotted horse manure and put this under the top soil. Also consider what type of strawberries you want. Strawberries come in early mid season and late season to get a long crop
https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/strawberry-full-season-collection/cww3188TMn

 There are also ever bearing strawberries

samurphy

Thank you to all that have responded to my post,
i feel i will not use the grit and use a mix of top soil/ MP compost/ & Manure.
Living in the north east of Scotland and our summers not normally being that good gets me to thinking about the varietys I should be planting & the ones i should avoid.
i have placed an order with Ken Muir for 6 Symphony pants as i read they do well in wetter climates 

Fairygirl

Sam - I grow Elsanta and it takes everything the Scottish winters can throw at it. No need for any special treatment, and it toughs out freezing conditions, rain, hail, sleet etc  - even 'new' runners in small pots. Good mid season cropper, reliable and easy.
If you can't get them let me know and I'll send you some runners/small plants. I've just done some 

samurphy

Fairygirl said:

Sam - I grow Elsanta and it takes everything the Scottish winters can throw at it. No need for any special treatment, and it toughs out freezing conditions, rain, hail, sleet etc  - even 'new' runners in small pots. Good mid season cropper, reliable and easy.
If you can't get them let me know and I'll send you some runners/small plants. I've just done some 

Thank you very much Fairygirl that is a kind.

Fairygirl

No probs. I have loads of them! 

Valley Gardener

I filled a small bed with wild strawberries,they are prolific in this area,and we had loads,they've only just tailed off now,the flavour was lovely.There are lots of runners for next year.

samurphy

Valley Gardener said:

I filled a small bed with wild strawberries,they are prolific in this area,and we had loads,they've only just tailed off now,the flavour was lovely.There are lots of runners for next year.

Hello Valley Gardener,
by wild are they alpine?
mind if i ask where about it the world are you?