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Posted by rosalba (U4525566) on Thursday, 12th May 2011
Hello
I am growing 4 types of strawberries (my first ever attempt at growing them)
The only ones which have started flowering are mara de bois which are perpetual. I have been told that I should pick off any flowers which appear before July
Silly question but here goes - how do i pick the flowers off, I.e from the bottom of the stalk as if picking a daisy, or from the top i.e dont pick the stalk off just pick the actual flower head off? Also at what stage, from when I notice the flower appearing and still closed or do i wait for it to open?
Many thanks
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I think you can pick them any way you want ! The sooner you recognise a flower and remove it the better for the plant.
The reason for removing the flowers in the first year is to allow the plant to put all its strength into making a good root system and becoming a more sturdy plant and not going into making flowers and fruit.
If you do this, I believe you will reap the benifits next year. Cheers, Tony.
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Thanks for the reply.
I think I was told to pick of the flowers before July so that I get more fruit later in the year, should I not allow the palnts to set fruit at all this year?
many thanks
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On perpetual varieties, you should still get some fruit later in the year.
Removing the early flowers on this type will allow the plants to grow a good root system, benefitting cropping later on.
On normal varieties, picking off the flowers will result in no fruit this year as
they only flower for a limited period (few weeks at best.) If the 'normal' plants are growing strongly in their first year, you can safely let them fruit but perhaps just remove some of the flowers (if there are a lot) and let them build themselves up for a bumper harvest next year.
I find that runners planted in late summer of the previous year will crop fine, but
those planted in spring of the current year are best left to grow without fruit which helps them survive the winter and gives a huge crop the following year.
HTH -- Bob
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Thanks Bob, thats a great help, I will perhaps remove most of the flowers, i am very greedy and am dying to try the strawberries!
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I always let my new strawberries fruit in the first year and enjoy them!! They do well the second year as well.
Link to this forum: Picking flowers off of strawberry plants
Thanks realfood, I am very tempted to let them set fruit because i love strawberries and am very greedy! But tehn again if I pick them off before July, I should get even more strawberries later on which is also very tempting!
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, in reply to message 7.
Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Friday, 13th May 2011
I ave come to te conclusion that the little b sould be made to feel they are going to die and then they just provide some fruit,if you overfeed you end up with a lot of leaf.
Mine are suffering in a large hanging basket this year..
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Just went down to check on mine and found Daddy Blackbird doing the job for me!
Link to this forum: Picking flowers off of strawberry plants
If they were bought as plants last year then I would treat them as if they were in their second year this year. Any grown from seed this year I would take off flowers and harvest next year.
Link to this forum: Picking flowers off of strawberry plants
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