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Moving strawberries for the winter

StuoobsStuoobs Posts: 10
in Fruit & veg
Hi, 

Am I able to take my strawberries plants out of the ground in autumn, put them into pots and overwinter them in the greenhouse, with the plan to re-plant them in the ground in spring?  They keep dying in winter outside. 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Where are you @Stuoobs that they're dying over winter? Are they in unsuitable ground? 
    I've never protected them here, and I often leave small runners in 3 inch pots out - just in among other planting and they're fine. They can look dead but spring back to life no problem. 
    You can certainly grow them undercover, as commercial producers do, but it would be good to look at the reasons they aren't thriving normally and maybe changing/amending that  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I don't do anything with mine, and though the roots do look dead and crispy in winter, it's just the way they are - or are yours just not coming back in spring?
  • StuoobsStuoobs Posts: 10
    They just die over winter - happened for the last 2 years.  I think the soil is too wet so the roots rots.  I buy new strawberries, plant them there, they produce lots of fruit, then die over winter again.   No growth in spring / summer. 
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Ah right. Could you plant them in pots instead? That way they should get through winter without having soggy feet. 
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    Yes you can do what you suggest, it's a bit like bring dahlias in really.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You need to improve the drainage of the soil if they're not coping.  Mine are growing in a very wet part of the country, in clay soil, no problem, but the soil is improved if I want to have them in the ground. I've had them in every garden I've had, and all in clay.  :)
    If I don't have room for them in the improved areas, they're grown in containers or the raised beds.
    Whereabouts are you - roughly?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • StuoobsStuoobs Posts: 10
    I'm in Southport - NW England.  The soil is very wet - it's in a planter with no drainage.  But a great growing spot in the summer - terrible in the winter.  I'll do what MikeOxgreen suggests. Bit of a fat - but ultimately worth it. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The problem is the drainage. You can't grow anything in a planter without drainage holes!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • StuoobsStuoobs Posts: 10
    Trouble I have is that it's a raised bed, sat on wood.  The plastic sheeting protects the wood!  I'm going to have to try and install drainage holes without getting the wood wet!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You'll also need to raise it off the wooden base if it's sitting on it.
    I'm not terribly clear on what your bed looks like though, but yes - holes are vital regardless of whether they're wood or anything else, and a plastic lined timber bed/container needs to have holes in the plastic too. 
    No plant will thrive in permanently wet conditions except for pond plants. Even bog plants need drainage  :)  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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