Your comments and tips

20 Apr 17, Giovanni (Australia - temperate climate)

gardenersface all sorts of chaallenges and should never write themselves off. The upside of your experience is that you have a lot of runners that you can plant. The runners will grow even if they currently don't have roots. Lift all of the plants and trim the roots. Remove most of the leaves by shearing them off withh secateurs or a stout pair of scissors. make a nbarrow trench and pack them in it side by side. Give them a good water to settle them in and they can stay there until late winter when they will start to sprout. When you have planted them in their permanent home you could make a frame over them with sticks oir prunings and drape old net curtain ver it. This will cost you nothing or only a few dollars from an 'op shop, and will stop birds and butterflies getting to them. If it is grubs, etc. getting to them spray them with Natures Way Caterpiller spray. This is totally saafe and non-toxic. All the best for next season.

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16 Apr 17, Tana (Australia - temperate climate)

What is the timing to grow from seeds?

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17 Apr 17, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)

Strawberry seed can be sown indoors in the winter months for transplanting outside in late Spring. Chill the seeds for 2 or 3 weeks indoor first and cover the seed with 2 or 3 times their depth with mix. Seeds will take about a month to germinate in soil that is about 20 degrees.

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26 Mar 17, Kylie (Australia - temperate climate)

I've just received a shopping bag full of runners from a friend. It is now Autumn in Ballarat Victoria, how should I plant these now? Thanks

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27 Mar 17, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)

Autumn is a good time to plant strawberry runners. Clean up any dead material from around each plant, cutting off any dead leaves or broken roots at the same time. plant them in rows or large tubs to which you have added old cow manure or compost if you can. Many people used to put down plastic and plant them in slits in the plastic. This was to reduce weeds, conserve water and keep the fruit clean. The downside, very hot soil in the summer which kills soil life and difficulty in watering. Ideally use a natural mulch such as pine needles, sugar cane mulch or straw. you can also use autumn leaves. Spread the leaves over the lawn and run the mower over them. This will give you a blend of grass and chopped up leaves which will be free and make a good mulch.

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18 Mar 17, Di (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi I grew some strawberries in styrofoam boxes late year. Can't remember the name but they were small and delicious. Unfortunately, they did not send out runners and eventually died off. Do some do this or have I done something wrong. I have just bought a couple of punnets from Bunnings and they already have runners. How do I propegate if no runners set? Thanks Di

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26 Apr 17, Mardi (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Di, I think the Strawberries you had are called Alpine Strawberries they do not have runners and are very sweet. I have just sown some seeds (Yates) which I bought on the internet but pretty sure Bunnings have them. I just have to hope they will germinate.

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20 Mar 17, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)

The Diggers Club on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne list a non-running variety called 'Temptation'. This may be the one you are looking for.

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15 Mar 17, Osone Layer (Australia - temperate climate)

When is the time for buying strawberries

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15 Mar 17, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)

Strawberry plants are normally available from late autumn through winter from nurseries, garden centres, bigger hardware stores, etc. They come bare rooted or packed in damp sawdust in a plastic bag.

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