Too early to plant out strawberries?

butlerjonny

I have some strawberry runners that I potted in compost in 12cm pots last Autumn. They’re currently living in my little plastic greenhouse and I haven’t really done anything to them apart from a light watering every couple of weeks to prevent the compost drying out. 

Is it too early to put them in the ground now? I had half planned to do it this weekend, but it’s still pretty cold and damp here so now I’m thinking it’s probably better to wait until later, maybe March or April? If so, should I be doing anything for them other than the watering? I guess they’re pretty dormant so won’t need feeding, but then again it’s nice and warm in the little greenhouse on sunny days so maybe they’ll be trying to grow and will need a little too-up of nutrients?

Would appreciate your advice,

Thanks, Jonny 

Fairygirl

They're totally hardy so if you're not in the grip of freezing weather, you can plant them out in the next few days. It's worth acclimatising them a little for a day or two - out through the day and in at night, and then out by the weekend at the latest. 
I'm assuming they're reasonably well grown, and you have a reasonably well prepped site for them 
I've never had strawbs undercover as they can survive all sorts. I leave tiny plants in among other plants, but even after freezes, heavy prolonged frosts. or anything else severe, they come back. I planted one out a few days ago which had been out all winter just as I described.  

Biglad

I'd echo that.

For years, the only edibles that survived in my neglected garden were strawberries and rhubarb. They're pretty bombproof!

Slow-worm

I have runners all over the garden, even the ones growing between the patio slabs weren't bothered by the snow and freezing temperatures, so there's another confirmation of their sheer grit, lol!
Despite the RHS basically saying molly coddle them. 😄

Fairygirl

You can certainly keep them, and grow them, undercover, but only if you want an early crop. Most folk wouldn't tend to devote valuable g'house or polytunnel space to them though.