The September Strawberry Trick Most Gardeners Get WRONG! 🍓, by Gardenomics on YouTube. 28 min.
- Video length
- 28 min
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Clear old leaves, runners and any rotting fruit from around each plant. Leave the healthy young leaves in the centre of the crown.
Check the crowns sit at soil level, not buried. Pull back soil that has piled up over the growing point.
Stop feeding high-nitrogen fertiliser now. Nitrogen pushes soft new growth that winter cold will damage.
Apply a low-nitrogen or balanced autumn feed around the plants if your soil is poor. Water it in lightly.
Water the bed during dry September spells. Keep the soil damp but not soaked, and never leave pots standing in water.
Wait until the soil has cooled and the plants are dormant, usually after the first hard frosts, before mulching.
Spread a 5 to 8 cm layer of straw or chopped leaves around the plants. Keep the mulch off the crowns so they do not rot.
For containers, move pots against a sheltered wall and wrap them with bubble wrap or fleece for insulation.
Tips and common mistakes
Mulching too early in warm weather traps heat and moisture, which can rot crowns.
Do not cut plants right back to the ground. The crown and young leaves need to survive winter.
Keep mulch a few centimetres away from the crown so air can still reach it.
Check pots after heavy rain, since waterlogged roots are a common winter killer.
Questions
When should I mulch strawberries for winter?
Wait until the plants are dormant and the soil has cooled, usually after the first hard frosts. Mulching in warm September weather can cause crown rot.
Should I fertilise strawberries in September?
A light low-nitrogen or balanced feed is fine if your soil is poor. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which encourage soft growth that winter damages.
Can I grow strawberries in pots over winter?
Yes. Move the pots to a sheltered spot and insulate them with bubble wrap or fleece. Make sure they drain freely so the roots do not sit in water.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
