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Strawberries at Christmas ?

phloxphlox Posts: 14
in Fruit & veg

 Shoud it be possible to have fresh strawberries at the end of the year by giving  the plants now an artificial autumn and winter and , later this year , september /october an artificial spring ? So to put  them first in a dark ,cool place to die back , and then in a greenhouse with eventually extra light and heath . Has anyone experience about this ?

Posts

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    If the plants have been frosted (not absolutely sure that is necessary) and you bring them into the greenhouse they will fruit early, but not I think by Christmas.
  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949
    I'm not sure you'd get enough light in the greenhouse during December to convince them its summer unless you introduce artificial lighting. You'd also need extra heat as even with this mild winter my greenhouse got very cold at night.



    Oh - and a little paint brush to pollinate them!



    How much effort / expense do you want to put into it?
  • LeggiLeggi Posts: 489
    It depends what you want to use them for really, if they're going to be cooked then I'd freeze them now (or before now as mine have finished already, other varieties might be a bit later). If you want fresh strawbs then greenhouse ones are certainly earlier, although not as early as you want them I'm afraid.
  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    Move to New Zealand?

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