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Small Strawberries

Alan DAlan D Posts: 55
in Fruit & veg

Hello, does anyone have any ideas as to why my Strawberries are so small ?

They have turned red, but are not much bigger than a pea.

The plants are healthy, there is a good amount of strawberries, I have some in pots, some in hanging baskets and some in a bed, yet they are all so disappointingly small.

Thanks in advance.

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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Is this the first season you've had them Alan? If so, it's possibly due to the variety, as Edd's suggested. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Alan DAlan D Posts: 55

    Yes Fairygirl, first season, do you suggest I replace them with new plants, or will they improve with age as it were?

  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328

    Can you remember what variety they are?  I have wild strawberries (tiny) and alpine ones (small) as well as the "normal" ones.  The small wild types are delicious, as Edd says, with a concentrated sweet flavour.

    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • phloxphlox Posts: 14

    I have the same problem with plants that have been over winter in small  pots in a cold frame (parhaps too dry).Since march they are in an unheated greenhous.

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    For the majority of places in the UK strawberries should be planted outside. Only if you are trying for early fruit should they be in a polytunnel or suchlike but even then they are grown in the ground. It sounds Phlox as though your plants did not get off to the best of starts and could be struggling now in pots in a very hot dry greenhouse. Are you sure Alan that you bought 'normal' sized varieties and that they are not alpine or wild strawberries?

     

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • phloxphlox Posts: 14

    Thanks Hogweed, It was a trial to have them earlier which didn't succeed neither .

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Hi Alan - sorry for taking so long to reply. If you're happy enough with the flavour then just keep the ones you have - perhaps they're a bit crowded though. How many do you have in pots/baskets and what sizes of pot? The more you have in a confined space, the more nutrition you need to provide. If you want bigger fruit, you might want to buy a couple of other varieties for next year so that you have enough big ones for pudding! image

    PS 'Elsanta' is readily available and trouble free - decent fruits and crops around July/August. Loads of runners in autumn that you can pot on to build a good stock image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Alan DAlan D Posts: 55

     Thanks for all the replies, I'm just about convinced they are wild strawberries, I have decided to consign them to the compost heap, I will take your tip Fairygirl and seek out Elsanta, any more reccomendations will be gratefully received . 

  • DachaloverDachalover Posts: 776

    Whaaat.....how can you even think of consigning such beautiful living things to the compost heap image we purposely grow wild strawberries for their beautiful taste and they just keep giving.....

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  • Alan DAlan D Posts: 55

    Mine are nowhere near that size, they are pea size at best.

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