Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

strawberry planting advice

pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
in Plants
Hi there,

I'd like to know how best to grow strawberries.
I'm going to plant some bare-root runners next month (though I wonder what with the current weather if they could be planted sooner).

I know I need to net them and protect the fruit from touching the soil with a mulch mat, but one concern I've got is slugs - how best to protect the fruits from slug attack?   I'm not keen to use metaldehyde pellets around the fruits.   I will be growing them in slightly raised beds (a foot high or so).

Any advice would be warmly welcomed.
Thanks all
PdG

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Bare root runners really need to be planted as soon as they arrive.  Strawberries are completely hardy and a frost won't bother them at all.  I lose very few to slugs, the main problem here being damage by birds (particularly blackbirds) which is why I net mine.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Jason millyJason milly Posts: 546
    To get them going earlier if you have greenhouse or cloche would bring them on sooner  
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    In a raised bed you can get good control of small to medium slugs using nematodes. 

    Metaldehyde will be banned from 2020... you're right not to want to use it.  You can, however, use ferric phosphate slug pellets, which are approved for organic gardeners, if you need to.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    Thanks all - are the mulch mats that prevent fruit from touching soil also a good slug deterrent?   I'm guessing not.   I don't mind trying the nematode drench but only if worthwhile.  I guess I could try ferric phosphate as a barrier if need be.  The raised bed contains a fairly clayey top soil so not sure how effective the nematode would be.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I planted some strawberries late last year and was considering these mats.
    But will keep an eye on this thread to see what others think 

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @Pete.8. I’ve sent you a PM  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    Can I have a PM too, dove, if it relates to the mats?
  • ColinAColinA Posts: 392
    I use 5Ltr mayonnaise tubs with the bottoms cut off this makes the flower stems grow up and over the top and so the fruits hang down, I also cut vertical slots to allow air to circulate the plants.
Sign In or Register to comment.