New Strawberry plants "Elsanta"

kevincooper112

Bought these from Wilko in polybags...Started to grow well and healthy in pots on my window sill, then just started to keel over and wither, can you help please?

Fairygirl

They're as tough as old boots, so should be outdoors really, once acclimatised, as they'll have been protected.
Have you got them in a heated area so that they're getting dry? 

amancalledgeorge

Makes you wonder why those industrial varieties are sold to gardeners...we don't care how they travel to distribution centres. But yes get them out there @kevincooper112 maybe with a little protection if they've been in the warm for a while. They're indestructible.

kevincooper112

Thanks for you reply Fairygirl, yes I have plenty outside of different varieties...I was searching for "Elsanta" and when I found them I potted them up to start them into growth before hardening off...they are on the kitchen windowsill and heating is on twice a day...just don't understand it???

kevincooper112

Many thanks for your reply, i guess I must just bit the bullet and put them outside and hope for the best...Thank you George.

steephill

Check for vine weevil grubs which will cause sudden collapse as they eat the roots, strawberries are very susceptible.

kevincooper112

I can't see how vine weevil could get into the compost in the pots...I sterilized all pots, new unopened compost was used and the plants were rinsed in lukewarm water to remove all dry compost within the bags they came in...and all this was done on my kitchen table...the compost was JI No 2.

Fairygirl

I wonder if they were already so dehydrated when you got them that they're just done. 
They can survive a nuclear attack though, so it's hard to be sure if that's the case.
I'd give them a little while and see if they recover.
I often have runners in very small pots which I've forgotten about. They can look completely dead over winter, even a pretty severe one, or after drying out in summer, and then they spring back to life, with no intervention from me 

kevincooper112

Thanks Fairygirl, yes that is so true...well, I shall keep you posted on this one. LOL.