Teeny tiny strawberries

[mags16]

I have a basket of strawberries that haave been doing really well. The fruits have been large and juicy.

A couple of weeks ago, I turned the hanging basket around so that the fruit in the shade could ripen.

Now, however, most of the fruit is really small - I mean really tiny. They are red but really teeny.

Why is this? Is it because I turned them? Should I be feeding them more?

Any advice is welcome.

[Shaun]

my strawbs were small last year and some body told me to water them more so i did this year and they are a lot bigger! it might not be the proper answer but has worked for me this year.

Cheers

Shaun

[mags16]

Thanks Shaun. I'll try that.

[Lesley Jay]

Also Mags feed the plants with a tomato food each week.

[mags16]

Thanks Lesley. I have been feeding them with tomato food once a week I should maybe feed them a little more often. Perhaps twice a week.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Mags, are the plants producing runners because it could simply be that the plants are focusing their energy on producing the runners, which is their way of reproducing, rather than using up their energy growing the fruits.

[woodpile]

Originally Posted by mags16

I have a basket of strawberries that haave been doing really well. The fruits have been large and juicy.

A couple of weeks ago, I turned the hanging basket around so that the fruit in the shade could ripen.

Now, however, most of the fruit is really small - I mean really tiny. They are red but really teeny.

Why is this? Is it because I turned them? Should I be feeding them more?

Any advice is welcome.

I get the same thing, but only the last to develop are small, so maybe they are moving into "runner" mode.

[mags16]

I have 3 plants in a large hanging basket and they have finished producing. What do I do with the plants now? Internet research suggests I cut plants right back and feed/water to ensure good crop next year. I did nothing with them last year - maybe that is why they started producing small fruit. Seeing as they have been in the same compost for 1 year and nutrients must be depleted, should I change compost?

What do you think?

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Mags, I must agree with you that two year old compost must be 'dead' with no nutrients left. So changing the compost would seem the right thing to do. Now that the plants have finished fruiting they need cutting down to about 4 inches (10cms) and I would replant them in fresh compost next spring. It is recommended to replace strawberry plants after 3 - 4 years as the fruit production drops off. However, I have read a number of articles that say when growing in containers or baskets that the strawberry plants and compost should be renewed each year. This doesn't make sense to me as one year old strawberry plants only produce a small crop - so by renewing the plants every year (as my neighbour does) you will always have a small harvest.

[mags16]

Thanks Lesley, I cut them right back and have top dressed with home made compost. I'll change the compost in the Spring and give them another chance.

I really wish I had more space so that I could plant strawberries and other veg in the ground. Reading posts on this forum gives me "raised bed envy"!