I set out 54 strawberry plants last August. They were a good size and were in 4 inch pots. I mulched them well and covered them with a floating row cover over the winter. This year we had a beautiful bumper crop of berries that were delicious. By now it is just a tangle of plants with all of the runners. They will need to be thined and spread out into a larger patch. Should I thin them now or wait til spring? Someone suggested mowing them down but that doesn't sound right to me, is this a good idea? Thanks in advance for your help.

-- Ria in Ky (MinMin45@aol.com), September 10, 2001

Answers

Rodale's Garden Answer book says: 1. Mow them down (be sure not to cut too low - not cutting crowns). 2. Pull weeds and thin. (Make more rows with thined plants.) 3. Put one inch of compost over the whole bed and then straw mulch. 4. Water.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), September 10, 2001.

Ria, It's getting kind of late to be fooling with the strawberries now. We could have frost in a couple of weeks. I'd wait until they finish fruiting next year and then mow them or thin them as you see fit. If they're really bad now, do some judicious thinning, but I think weeding and mulching is probably all you need to do.

-- Katherine in KY (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), September 10, 2001.

Thanks to both of you. Now I know that mowing is a good idea. but I agree, it is probably too late in the year. They weren't this thick right after fruiting. There were actually spaces between the three 4 foot beds. Now it is all one. I think I'll just let them be til spring. I knew someone here would be able to help me. Any other input is welcome..Thanks again

-- Ria in Ky (MinMin45@aol.com), September 11, 2001.