Early strawberries in the tunnel

dormouse · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 8:10 am Post subject: Early strawberries in the tunnel

Hi, some of my strawberries in pots in the tunnel are finishing up after giving me a nice crop and I'm wondering what to do with them now. I don't want to put them outside in the pots as I'd have to keep watering them for the next few months. There's enough to do Smile

Would it be ok to plant them out in the ground and then dig them up in December, repot them and bring them in again? Would all that root disturbance harm them?
I have new runners on the go from some of them. Again, would it be ok to plant them out in the ground and then pot them up in December to bring inside in January? Or is it best to keep them in pots from now?
Thanks a lot

michael brenock · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 8:34 pm Post subject:

It is better o use young plants for use in pots in the tunnel. You can either use the same plants again by plunging them, ie burying them into the ground with only the top half inch of the pot above soil level, this means no watering. You could take early runners June/July and put them in pots, grow them outside until October?November Then bring them in to grow and produce fruit.. Older plants produce smaller berries and more diseases
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

dormouse · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 9:24 pm Post subject:

Brilliant, thanks a lot Michael. I'll plunge them. One more question if you dont mind. I assume the roots would grow out of the bottom of the pots into the border soil. Would I just trim them when I lift them to bring them in? Or maybe I could plant them in the tunnel border for the few months and lift them in early summer after they crop? Thanks

michael brenock · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 7:20 pm Post subject:

Dormouse, sorry for delay as I was away giving a tallk on vegetables. If the roots go to the bottom of the pot you can lift them as carefully as possible before bringing them inside. Do not disturb the roots if at all possible. If you take them out of the pots to plant them in the bordr soil you wil upset them too much. There is usually enough soil in the pot for the roots. The pots will stay moist if they are plunged into the ground, but water them occasionally in dry weather.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

dormouse · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 10:16 pm Post subject:

No worries Michael. Thanks very much for the answer as always.