Strawberries

[john1066]

Last year on my allotment i had a very large crop of strawberries. This year I planted runners from last years plants and the crop was almost non-existent. From about 50 plants I gathered not more than two small punnets. My allotment neighbour had the same results as me but further down the plot they were getting bumper crops.Was it anything to do with the soil on our two allotments? Mine was manured last winter, his wasn't...

[Brinjal]

I had the same thing happen a couple of years ago. Had bumper crops two years in a row from planting out runners. The next year nothing and the plant just died eventually without giving new runners. Sorry I can't give you a reason why but it seems to happen. I was told that strawberries shouldn't be plated in the same ground over and over but can't say if it is the reason.

[boxtops]

says here you shouldn't use farmyard manure on strawberries, it rots the plants http://www.garden.ie/askgerry_answers.aspx?article=353

[puzzled54]

What happened to last years plants? They go on fruiting for years, but if you take runners for new plants the new plants will not produce much fruit in their first year.

[SpikeyBush]

Still early yet. My plants have only just started fruiting, all are still white and need to ripen. They are beside my pond this year which is full of frogs so that limits the damage done by slugs.

[Chipchopper]

Its normal for first year runners, not producing much fruit but better results should be seen over the next couple of years.