Strawberries
I'd like to start a conversation about renewing strawberry beds.
I have a 3 year old strawberry bed that has declined in production this
past year. I see lots of runners but it is clear that the bed needs to be
renewed. Can anyone give me pointers on how to do this?
Can save runners and replant with them? If so, do I dig them up and
refrigerate them or can they simply stay in the ground? If I dig them up,
when do I do it and how long do they need to be refrigerted?
Shall I simply replace the entire bed with new plants? If so, why are new
plants any different from the runners?
Someone suggested to me that I should replace 30% of my strawberry bed each
year (rotate through the bed). Do any of you do this and why, how, etc.
Any tips for terrific strawberry production?
Thanks
Nan
PS You might have noticed us Californians mentioning that this has been an
unusually cool summer. It is now mid-September, a time when schoolchildren
are sweating it out in the classroom, but it rained a bit yesterday and it
has been cool enough for long pants and socks (as opposed to shorts and
sandals) for a couple of weeks already. Usually, this doesn't happen until
mid-to late October. Anyway, my point is, I was was out in the garden this
morning and the California poppies have already sprouted! I've never seen
them sprout before November before.
We'll have to see what interesting events this year's weather will bring....
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Nan Sterman
San Diego County California
Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11
