Strawberries

Biglad · August 2020

Just wondering if anybody has got any idea how many strawberries they harvest per plant and under what conditions. For example, I got about 5 healthy, unscathed fruit per plant this year. That's from plants that range in age from approx. 2-15 years old, transplanted into pots in March/April from a messy bed after years of neglect. They were watered this summer but fed nothing else. Obviously, yield declines with age and I haven't exactly molly-coddled them this year! So I'm guessing y'all are more productive?

I've done a bit of research that suggests up to 20 per plant isn't unusual so I'm planning how many plants I want in my new patch next year. They will all be plants propagated from runners this year and will get fed so I hope to massively improve on this year's numbers.

I'm not sure what variety I'm growing, by the way. A dead common one I'd imagine!

Kat1989 · August 2020

Hi @Biglad
Last year I planted 8 honeyoe plants in containers and I only really got a handful of strawberries. I took a couple of runners and planted them up just in case of disease etc they were the weaker ones this year but I'm expecting them to bulk out by next.
This year the original plants have done really well probably about 15 fruits per plant. well I'm happy with that

Biglad · August 2020

Thanks @Kat1989. That's a decent return. Is that with or without feeding?

Kat1989 · August 2020

@Biglad I just give them one feed at the beginning of spring with some tomato feed. I think others do more but I didn't think they needed it. Be careful the crowns don't get to congested and overcrowded with excess damaged leaves etc. If you see any browning stalks they should easily pull out from the crown this will also stop the crown from rotting. Hope that helps

Biglad · August 2020

That's great - thanks @Kat1989. They should have plenty of room and I'll keep them neat and tidy.

Ilikeplants · August 2020

This year strawberries in the ground half neglected hardly gave any yield. Next year I’m thinking of potting more up and cover other with net from squirrels and birds. And giving them regular feed and water.

Lizzie27 · August 2020

I believe old strawberries decline with age and get diseased and should therefore be replaced every 4-5 years. You should only propogate via runners from newish plants to avoid transferring disease. They crop better with watering and feeding.

Biglad · August 2020

Thanks @Lizzie27. Touch wood, I've been fortunate to avoid any disease with any of the plants that I've had for too long so far. All the plants that go in the new patch will be youngsters and, from 2021, I intend to start to observe the protocol surrounding the normal 4-5 year cycle and getting rid of the old plants. Along with feeding, this should increase the productivity that I'm after.

Biglad · August 2020

Were the elsanta first year plants @Treeface? I'm sure you'll get more runners in future. Maybe not too late yet for this year.

Biglad · August 2020

My sister bought a dozen strawberry plants this year. Not sure on the variety but not a single fruit! Years 2 and 3 are generally thought to be the peak for most varieties I understand, so fingers crossed we all fare better next year.

Biglad · August 2020

Correction - my sister has now enjoyed a harvest of one strawberry and one other flower has just appeared. Loads of runners now though so the original dozen plants will easily become 25-30 for next year (assuming somebody goes round and makes it happen! [most of the runners were dangling in mid-air]).

Strawberries

Posts