strawberry plant questions

[academama]

Okay, successful strawberry growers, help me out!

My daughter wanted to grow strawberries this year. We planted Surecrop plants (I bought them bareroot). They look fine, in that the foliage looks green and happy, but only one of them blossomed at all; it produced two berries, which fell off while still tiny. (I was figuring on pinching them off, as my book suggested, but didn't get around to it!)

Is there a reason none of them are fruiting? Should I be doing something else with them? They're in a raised bed that was filled with a mix of composted manure, straight compost, and dirt; they get pretty good drainage and I've been keeping them watered. It has been a scorcher of a summer, though--maybe they don't like the heat?

I see that a couple of them have put out runners but I'm not sure what to do with those, either.

Finally, if I just came up with a great idea for where to put a permanent bed, can I move them? Or should I just plant more in that bed and let these ones be?

[CariOfOz]

When did you plant them? I live in the subtropics so I planted mine mid winter and it's almost spring (not that we have much real winter lol) and there are flowers & the start of berries galore. Maybe you started them too late in the year? I also think that strawberries tend to establish and fruit a little the first year, then the second year go mental. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

[Maela]

I am definitely not an expert. We planted strawberries for the first time this year, and they have only given us a couple of berries each. And they weren't good ones either. I've been told that the next year will be better.

[Erinz]

In my humble experiences the first year doesn't amount to much with bare-root plants. It's the second year that goes gang-busters. Some types will also have a runner year followed by a fruiting year. I have no experience with the type you planted so I can't help there. Make sure their water is consistent and mulch them really well.

[emnic77]

Originally Posted by Erinz

In my humble experiences the first year doesn't amount to much with bare-root plants. It's the second year that goes gang-busters. Some types will also have a runner year followed by a fruiting year. I have no experience with the type you planted so I can't help there. Make sure their water is consistent and mulch them really well.

Ditto this. We did the same this year, and expect lots of fruit next year. We pinch runners on ours but not sure if you do that with your variety.

[webjefita]

I would leave them in the raised bed and not move them. They will continue to send out runners and take over, even get in your lawn if there is grass next to them.

You can leave the runners and let them grow into new plants, that's what I do. I have original plants that are four or five years old now and I am pulling them out this year, leaving or replanting the littler plants. The first spring they may not produce, mine did, and I pinched the fruits off. Good luck next year!

[academama]

Okay, thank you! I was afraid I was doing something radically wrong. But we'll see what happens next year.