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Strawberries

• Message 1. 

  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Sunday, 13th June 2010

  I just have to say how lovely it is to have ripe strawberries again. I never buy them in the supermarket and only ever eat them from my garden. The thrill of watching the fruit get bigger and then one day noticing that they have gone a paler shade of green.
  
  I went away for the weekend last week and the first thing I saw on my return was a big red strawberry on a pot by my front door.
  
  I have just eaten a bowl of sweet juicy fruit chopped up in greek yoghurt. It has to be greek yoghurt as it brings out the sweetness of the strawberries. It is nice and sharp and doesn't leave a nasty coating on your tongue like cream does.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Miss-polly (U14402803) on Monday, 14th June 2010

  Lovely
  
  I've planted a hanging basket at my front door, so only a few, trouble is they ripe one at time, hes hoping the postmen doesn't pinch them.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Cornflower (U14518335) on Monday, 14th June 2010

  I've got wild strawberries growing rampantly in my garden. There might even be enough this year to be worth picking! I usually leave them to the birds as they're so tiny. I've donated a few to the NT and I'm going to have to transplant some as that bit of border is earmarked for something else. I'm loathe to just pull them up though.
  
  I've got three different 'proper' strawberries in terracotta pots - Hapil, Darselect and Elsanta. The Hapil is fruiting merrily (although the blackbirds keep beating me to it!) and the Darselect is looking good, but the Elsanta is not doing so well. Which is a pity as the Elsanta strawbs I bought from the supermarket the other day were delicious. Any thoughts?

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• Message 4

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  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010

  Most of mine are elsanta and they always do well. I have a few of a variety called "irrisistable" but I don't think that they are any nicer than the good old elsanta. I hope yours perk up soon.
  
  I grow some in pots on the front door step too and so far the postman has resisted them!

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Cornflower (U14518335) on Thursday, 24th June 2010

  My Elsanta is still looking a bit sad. It just isn't putting on new growth. All three plants are in terracotta pots and should have space to grow still, and get watered once or twice a day (morning/evening). Eventually I plan to plant them in a raised bed I'm going to build beside the patio, so they can hang down the sides.
  
  I think I may tip the Elsanta out and see if it's pot bound. I wouldn't have thought so, judging by the top growth, but I can move it to a bigger pot for now if needs be.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Thursday, 24th June 2010

  One thing has just occurred to me. A couple of years ago one of my strawberry pots was looking really unhappy. I tipped it out and found the dreaded vine weevil grubs had been at work. I never give in to a vine weevil, so I filled a trug with water, washed all the soil and weevils off the roots and repotted. The robin loved the grubs when I put them on the bird table.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Cornflower (U14518335) on Thursday, 24th June 2010

  I repotted it earlier, although it didn't look pot bound. Didn't look at it very closely though, so if it still doesn't perk up I will take it out again and look for vine weevil. Thanks for the tip.

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• Message 8

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  Posted by AL PASSO (U14392681) on Friday, 25th June 2010

  Hi, my strawberries seem to be doing ok, had a couple of red berries but black bird beat me. The problem is they are making lots of big leaves; should i cut some off like you do with tomatoes? Advice appreciated. AL Passo.

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• Message 9

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  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Friday, 25th June 2010

  I don't remove healthy leaves from my plants. Mine are all growing in pots so the fruit hangs over the side away from the leaves. I do remove the runners until I am about half way through picking the fruit. For example, I have been picking ripe strawberries for about 3 weeks now and have just stopped cutting off the runners.
  
  I find it much easier to grow strawberries in pots because I can move them into the sun when they are fruiting and then put them out of the way when they've finished. I don't have a problem with birds eating them because I put out lots of food and water. They just ignore the stawberries.

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• Message 10

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  Posted by AL PASSO (U14392681) on Friday, 25th June 2010

  Thanks Koala-girl, will leave leaves alone, we do put lots of birdfood out might not be my cheeky black bird ? AL

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