Your comments and tips

05 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I suppose it depends what variety and kind you planted. I don't know much about that either. But in SE Qld it is important to plant early April. This doesn't give the crown too much time to produce a lot of leaf and then they start flowering. The ones I planted in mid April were still sending out runners until early June. By the sounds of it you may have planted too late and or you have applied too much Nitrogen. A suggestion start preparing your strawberry patch early next year by putting some manure, grass clipping, leaves etc and dig that in and turn it over each 2-3 weeks. Keep it moist so that it break down and decomposes by end of March. This should give you good rich soil without it being overloaded with N. The strawberry season is finished here now.

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23 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Continued about planting strawbs in sub tropical climate. Buy new stock and plant April/May. You can either plant runners from these next year and do that in future years, After about 6 years start with new stock again. Or leave the new plants in for two crops. Then plant new runners from these plants and do the same again. After doing this 3 times (six years) start with new stock again. Between the first and second crop with the same plants trim off all new runners. I will be putting my strawbs on weed mat next year. Also if you can put an irrigation system in the soil or under the mulch. If watering overhead do it in the morning (so the leaves and fruit dry out quickly) rather than late arvo.

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02 Sep 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Mike, thankyou for all your valued advice. I'm up for the challenge. Appreciated!!

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18 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Love this article on strawberries. Thanks for it.

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20 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Also when planting new runner plants - trim most of the leaves off - but leave a couple of the newer small leaves in the middle. And most important - where the leaves come out of the plant, is the crown of the plant, When planting DO NOT cover the crown with soil - have it sticking out of the soil a bit.

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31 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Mike thanks for yr strawberry posts. Appreciated. Will do.

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20 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

A run down on growing strawberries in sub tropical areas. You should start with fresh stock from nursery or online etc. Plant them early to mid April - some shops will sell plants anytime of the year.

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03 Aug 18, Ken ODonnell (Australia - temperate climate)

Why do my strawberries go mouldy ? I have them in raised garden pots and on mulch. The 1st fruits didnt go mouldy . Thankyou,

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18 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi Ken, sorry to hear you're having mold problems with yr strawberries. I', not in your zone and although I am currently growing 4 strawberry plants that were a gift to me (I have them under a roughly-made 'cloche-shaped' wire because something trampled some of my vegies - possum or some such). They are looking healthy although I am fairly certain (not 100% and have not checked) that like tomatoes, they do not like to have their leaves wet (says me. who often wets them both). and that this causes all sorts of diseases, one of which may be mold (it would make sense)? I am a newbie gardener and learning as I go. But do check such things as watering (frequently/infrequently - can be a problem and cause diseases) feeding, etc. esp in this case things like strawberry diseases (Australia), etc. Also, try to buy old seed, heirlooms etc. A basil disease that has been in the USA for about ten years has now hit Australia. As far as I know it is in Qld and Northern NSW. One person admitted selling diseased basil seeds. I could be jumping the gun but I believe this would not happen with old varieties. Best *PS Can someone tell me whether or not I can plant out various and different seedlings, (instead of) where the Gardenate planting reminder mailout says 'sow seed? Thanks in advance.

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06 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Google gray mold in strawberries.

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