Re: 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?
I read "bed" for your strawberries. Assuming the plants to be in rows.
With paths between for picking the berries.
The runners could be rooted out in the paths, staggering the runnerplants,
leaving spaces for stepping while they are in the process of rooting.
When the runnerplants are rooted, slice through the runners and remove the
old plants - thereby leaving the rows of old plants to be the new paths to
walk in between your new rows.
The only thing that will break this pattern is diseased plants .....
Toni
tonihawr@email.msn.com
