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Strawberry Plants
biofreak
Posts: 1,089
in Fruit & veg
My srawberry plants 'Anais' are now 2yrs old, and I do not really want to buy in any more. Can I divide the stools like I do primroses as they seem much stronger than runners and can I do it now? Will they fruit as well or should I just leave them alone and add fresh stock?
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Biofreak I know a little about strawberries but never heard of anyone dividing plants before. Where did this idea come from?
Potting up the runners in Autum, is the only way to get free plants that I know of.
2 yr old strawberry plants have their best season to come, i.e. the third year.
You cant divide strawberries, you renew by potting the runners each year.
Done in rotation, this ensures you get a third year crop every year.
Can you really not divide strawberries? I divided mine up last year in the autumn in order to get them in to pots to prepare for moving house and they seemed to come away into "chunks" and continue to grow just fine (they're entering their third year this year).
Will this affect them producing fruit this year?
I'm sure you can divide them Clarington, you did It's just not what's usually done.
I shouldn't think it will affect them adversely, other perennial plants are improved by it
In the sticks near Peterborough
The temptation is very strong because they are in massive clumps. The runners were nothing to write home about. Asked a nursery man at the Market this morning and he said that he always divided his up until the fifth year then renewed stock as even runners weaker then. Also apparently you must create a new strawberry bed when you renew stock - Is this right. I always remember the Strawberry beds when I was little always in the same place. Any ideas on this one?
The usual reason given for starting afresh after 4 or so years is that viruses build up in the plants which reduces their vigour. If that were the case I can't see why the viruses wouldn't also affect runners but that's what I've always read.
I said at the start that I knew alittle about strawberries, well now I know some more. never entered my head to divide as i always hve so many runners.
Also we move to fresh ground with new plants to get a fresh start for the plants. After 4 years or so the plot will be jaded and needs fresh supply of organic material and this is difficult to do with a bed of strawberry plants. We are not trying to be awkward biofreak but rotation is the healtiest option.
Happy gardening to all in 2014.
You certainly can divide strawberries, it is sometimes done commercially for varieties that produce few runners - in particular perpetual and day-neutral varieties, as well as 'alpine' strawberries that do not produce any runners.
Personally, I don't think now would be the best time - better to wait until early spring just before active growth starts again. Remove all the top growth before dividing very carefully and re-plant in fresh soil 15" apart. Make sure they are watered well during dry periods until established.
However it must be stressed that taking runners in the Summer is a better method of increase, the resultant plants will be more vigorous and the mother plants will of course still crop.
Might have to look into this. Didnt get chance to set any runners this year due to other commitments. Currently trying to resist the urge to clear the browned dead leaves off the plant, as its protecting the crowns from frost.
Chris, Alpine strawberries don't produce runners as they reproduce by self seeding from the unpicked strawberries.
Pineberries, a white strawberry which tastes like pineapple don't produce runners either. They also self seed if the berries aren't picked.