strawberry protection

[precious lilywhite]

Hello, I'm new here, me.

Is it absolutely necessary to put straw/polythene/whatever under your strawberry plants, and if it is what do people think is best?

Last year I used straw but it was a terrible faff. Those mat thingys look good but I've got 100-odd plants so probably too expensive.

What do you do?

[jopsy]

We put straw round ours, they always do really well
Hello, by the way, and WELCOME

[John]

Nothing beats straw. I've tried those mats in the past but found them fiddly and not really big enough. Also I think straw helps to keep the plants and fruits dry in showery weather. Do put slug pellets under it though.
At the end of the season the straw is great stuff to add into the compost heap.

John

[Compo]

Hi Precious and welcome

They do quite well on landscape membrane, choose a good quality one, you can lay it over the plants and carefully make a large cross with a pair of scissors over each plant, I have then got a raised bed with some netting over to keep the birds off, but I have also tried straw which is equally good and compostable too, so you have couple of choices.

[precious lilywhite]

Thanks all. I guess that's me off to the pet shop in the morning for a big bag o' straw then...

[John]

Best to try and pick up a bale of straw from sowewhere near you - much cheaper. Are there any farms nearby or stables that use straw? That said, fewer farms seem to bale it these days most use these giant rolls.

John

[Carole B.]

There's a nack to strawing down,first spread and 'fluff up' the straw with a fork down the middle of the row and then with your left hand cup around the leaves and fruit to leave the ground clear,with your right hand spread the straw under the plant and then let go.....job done.Try not to get barley straw it's very sharp and will fester if bits stick in your arms.
When I was much younger(!)part of my job was working strawberry fields and we used to have two blokes spreading the straw and 3 of us women tucking it in on a couple of acres,I could do 'em in my sleep!

[submariner]

I have solved the protection problem! I have all my strawberries in T&M pouches, on the bungalow south facing wall. No need of protection, except from the birds!

[Malk]

I use wood chips as I get them for free on my allotment. Keeps the plants from rotting, but doesn't keep away the birds, slugs and woodlice. Will have to try slug pellets under plants this year and fleece over the top.

[richard p]

ours in the tunnel get a mulch of compost in early spring when last years foliage is trimmed off. and a net over the door to keep the blackbirds out. woodlice seem to be the only problem.

[Colin Miles]

If you grow a variety like Marshmellow the strawberries are held well clear of the ground. In contrast a variety like Mae which I am growing for the first time this year, seems to be trying to bury the fruits in the ground!

[Tigger]

I use a mixture of straw and wood chips which works well and reduces the access for slugs too.

[Ian F]

As they are in the ground for 3 years, I plant mine through a black plastic sheet, which keeps the weeds down, and lets me control the runners. I did try straw, but as has already been said, found it a bit fiddly.