Free Strawberry Plants!

GemmaJF

Not done strawberries before, but was offering around my spare seed potatoes (while keeping social distancing). I still have the seed potatoes, but gained lots of free strawberry plants!

So before I read up tonight, anyone want to give me the basics on my new plants? I think they just came out of a greenhouse, so currently have them outside in the sun, I'm guessing they are best kept in their pots as they will need hardening off and planting out after the last frosts?

PurpleRose

I have grown Strawberries for years. They are so lovely home grown. 

I have a strawberry patch in my garden. It's a nice sheltered sunny spot. I water them morning and evening when it's very dry. When they have the little white flower I give them a bit of liquid feed once a week.

I find them to be quite low maintenance. I make sure that they are kept clear of weeds and tidy up any shrivelled leaves.

I have a system where I rotate old plants with new plants in each part of the patch. I maybe corrected here as I am not sure the maximum age of strawberry plants but mine are changed after 2 years. 

I dont know about anyone else but I dont find much luck with strawberries in tubs. I have much better results with the plants in the ground.

Hope you enjoy your strawberries in the summer 

Fairygirl

They really don't need hardening off. They're tough as old boots.
If they've been undercover somewhere, just stick them out during the day and in at night for a couple of days.
If you have a greenhouse, you can also keep some undercover for an earlier crop. 
I leave runners in tiny pots out all year round. Even after a normal winter here [snow, ice and everything in between] they can look dead, but they just spring back. 

I often grow in pots or troughs because of slugs, but they're probably best in the ground if the soil is suitable. Plenty of food and they're happy. Keep the fruits off the ground too  - straw is the usual method, but you can use shavings or landscape fabric or anything similar. 

PurpleRose

Thanks @philippa smith2 for the bit of info about the crops. I do indeed us the runners when I rotate. 

GemmaJF

Thanks for the tips, good thing about the hardening off as I'm running out of space at the moment under cover. Plan is to get them in the ground, just need them in pots still for a bit while I get the area prepared. I have just the spot at the end of the veg patch, catches a lot of sun but is nicely sheltered.

Seemed really fortunate because it was the one thing this year, I thought 'you know I should try strawberries this year' but kind of let the idea go with all the problems at the moment. Then they came for free!