Sweet, juicy, and perfect for picnics, strawberries are one of the highlights of summer, but once you've picked the last of them, it's easy to assume the job is done. In reality, what you do after harvesting can have a big impact on next year's crop. A little maintenance now will help plants recover and encourage them to put their energy into producing more fruit.
Below, we share what to do with strawberry plants after fruiting, so you can have gorgeous feasts next year too.
1. Clear away old fruit and debris
After harvesting your strawberries, give the plant and surrounding area a tidy up to allow more sunlight and air in.
‘Remove mushy, unpicked fruit from the plant, pull off yellowing leaves and clear away old straw,’ says Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture. ‘Then, remove weeds by hand, as this prevents disturbing any runners or shallow crowns of plants that you want to keep.’
Leaving rotting fruit and damp debris around plants creates the perfect conditions for fungal diseases and also provides shelter for slugs and snails, so it's best to clear everything away promptly.
2. Manage runners
Now is also the time to decide what to do with runners – the long stems that produce baby strawberry plants.
‘If you want more plants next year, you can make the most of the runners that strawberries put out,’ explains Simon Wilkinson, managing director of Wilkinsons Landscapes. ‘Firmly place the runners into potted compost, or into a nearby gap in your growing medium. Once they've taken root, remove the runner and you have a new plant.’
However, if you'd rather improve the productivity of your existing plants than increase the size of your strawberry patch, remove any excess runners instead. This prevents the parent plant from wasting energy on new growth and encourages it to focus on building strength.
3. Keep watering after harvesting
Although fruiting has finished, strawberry plants still need regular care well into the later weeks of summer.
‘After flowering and fruiting, strawberry plants are effectively preparing for next year,’ Simon tells us. ‘It's important to continue watering during dry weather, particularly for plants growing in containers, as stress – even when not fruiting – can affect your yield the next year.’
If your harvest was disappointing this year, it’s a good idea to apply a fertiliser that's high in potassium the following spring to encourage stronger cropping.
4. Replace older plants
Strawberry plants don't stay productive forever, so it's worth refreshing your patch every few years.
‘Most strawberry plants remain productive for around four years, and replanting every few years keeps them cropping strongly and avoids diseases,’ explains Richard.
Healthy runners can be used to replace aging plants, but only if they're taken from vigorous, disease-free specimens. If your strawberry bed has become weak, it's better to start again with fresh plants.
5. Prepare plants for cooler months
As temperatures begin to cool, focus on protecting your strawberry plants through winter.
‘Apply a light mulch of straw or compost around the plants, as this helps regulate soil temperatures, protects roots from severe frosts and leaves plants in the best possible condition for spring,’ says Simon.
If your strawberries are growing in containers, move the pots to a sheltered spot, such as against a south-facing wall or inside a greenhouse, where they'll be better protected from harsh weather.
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