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Ok! I used to mow back leaves after fruiting, but this past year I thought I read that you purposely didn’t mow them then because you found the plants needed the energy from the leaves during the rest of the summer.
So hopefully it’s fine if I just mow this fall and that’s it.
Interesting you mow twice. Are you really trying to make sure that there are no summer leaves on the plants going into the fall? I thought the leaves that grew after the first mowing were the ones the plant used next year.
Sorry this is so long! My other question is about the mulch/runners. The theory is that strawberry plants only have about 3 years of good production and then they should be replaced. That is why I thought you allowed runners....because they were new plants naturally forming that would keep your production going. (And hopefully the old ones would probably just die when mowed back).
Thanks so much for your insight! Enjoy this Lord’s Day!
I have a good friend that made his living growing strawberries. He told me the late summer and fall leaves are producing the energy for the following years production. That is why I wait to mow just before winter sets in. The mowing after the plants produce berries I know others that have done that as well.
I know that there are many trains of thought on this. I also have been told the plants are only good for maybe three seasons. If I hadn’t seen my friends patch that was seven years old doing great I probably would be doing it the way everyone else is.
Because my plants used their energy to produce lush new leaves and not runners they looked great the rest of the summer after I mowed them. I'm looking forward to the spring to see what happens.
Maybe just take a portion of your plants and try doing the mowing and mulching. Then you will have something to compare with. I am growing Earlyglows that could effect things as well. Not all varieties will probably respond the same.
Thanks for responding in Gab about my strawberry question! So when do you mow them - after they are done fruiting or in the fall? Curious what the reason is to add a layer of mulch.
I mow them twice. Just after fruiting and then again late fall just before I figure it will snow soon. I put about a 1/8” of compost on and some kelp meal each time and then I cover them with wood chips. The chips are not high carbon chips. They are chips from smaller branches. Putting the chips on after the fruiting has cut back any runner production by 90%. I have a friend that showed me his patch he has been doing for seven years. Since I have been doing it they keep getting better. You wouldn’t believe the flavor of the berries. Adding the mulch allows the old leaves to decompose better and everything together is a great fertilizer. The crowns of the original plants are quite deep now. But the plants keep getting nicer. If you think about it the wild strawberries along a forest edge will be mulched each fall from leaves and then push through in the spring.
Ok! I used to mow back leaves after fruiting, but this past year I thought I read that you purposely didn’t mow them then because you found the plants needed the energy from the leaves during the rest of the summer.
So hopefully it’s fine if I just mow this fall and that’s it.
Interesting you mow twice. Are you really trying to make sure that there are no summer leaves on the plants going into the fall? I thought the leaves that grew after the first mowing were the ones the plant used next year.
Sorry this is so long! My other question is about the mulch/runners. The theory is that strawberry plants only have about 3 years of good production and then they should be replaced. That is why I thought you allowed runners....because they were new plants naturally forming that would keep your production going. (And hopefully the old ones would probably just die when mowed back).
Thanks so much for your insight! Enjoy this Lord’s Day!
I have a good friend that made his living growing strawberries. He told me the late summer and fall leaves are producing the energy for the following years production. That is why I wait to mow just before winter sets in. The mowing after the plants produce berries I know others that have done that as well.
I know that there are many trains of thought on this. I also have been told the plants are only good for maybe three seasons. If I hadn’t seen my friends patch that was seven years old doing great I probably would be doing it the way everyone else is.
Because my plants used their energy to produce lush new leaves and not runners they looked great the rest of the summer after I mowed them. I'm looking forward to the spring to see what happens.
Maybe just take a portion of your plants and try doing the mowing and mulching. Then you will have something to compare with. I am growing Earlyglows that could effect things as well. Not all varieties will probably respond the same.
Thanks for responding in Gab about my strawberry question! So when do you mow them - after they are done fruiting or in the fall? Curious what the reason is to add a layer of mulch.
I mow them twice. Just after fruiting and then again late fall just before I figure it will snow soon. I put about a 1/8” of compost on and some kelp meal each time and then I cover them with wood chips. The chips are not high carbon chips. They are chips from smaller branches. Putting the chips on after the fruiting has cut back any runner production by 90%. I have a friend that showed me his patch he has been doing for seven years. Since I have been doing it they keep getting better. You wouldn’t believe the flavor of the berries. Adding the mulch allows the old leaves to decompose better and everything together is a great fertilizer. The crowns of the original plants are quite deep now. But the plants keep getting nicer. If you think about it the wild strawberries along a forest edge will be mulched each fall from leaves and then push through in the spring.
Craig
What a great way to spend my early morning read time, leaning about your soil block process. You got my wheels turning. Thank you and Godspeed.