Healthy strawberry plants, but few flowers...?
 

Howdy,

I have a bed with several variety of apparently healthy
strawberry plants but they have produced few flowers.

Are soil nutrients the likely culprit? If so, which one(s)?

Thanks for any help,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

Kenneth wrote:
Howdy,

I have a bed with several variety of apparently healthy
strawberry plants but they have produced few flowers.

Are soil nutrients the likely culprit? If so, which one(s)?

Thanks for any help,


Have you been growing these for a while... a few years? Did they do
better the first year of two? Have you let them get too crowded?

Steve

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Kenneth wrote:
Howdy,

I have a bed with several variety of apparently healthy
strawberry plants but they have produced few flowers.

Are soil nutrients the likely culprit? If so, which one(s)?

Thanks for any help,


Have you been growing these for a while... a few years? Did they do
better the first year of two? Have you let them get too crowded?


When did the first few flowers appear? The plants don't all flower at once.

Did you fertilize them last fall? If so, how much nitrogen did they get?
Too much N can inhibit flowering.

Or what Steve said. Maybe it's time to rejuve the bed with new plants.

On Sat, 4 Jun 2005 20:54:37 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:


"Steve" wrote in message
...
Kenneth wrote:
Howdy,

I have a bed with several variety of apparently healthy
strawberry plants but they have produced few flowers.

Are soil nutrients the likely culprit? If so, which one(s)?

Thanks for any help,


Have you been growing these for a while... a few years? Did they do
better the first year of two? Have you let them get too crowded?


When did the first few flowers appear? The plants don't all flower at once.

Did you fertilize them last fall? If so, how much nitrogen did they get?
Too much N can inhibit flowering.

Or what Steve said. Maybe it's time to rejuve the bed with new plants.


Hello again,

Do you know the relationship between nitrogen content and
the tendency of the plants to throw off runners? In the
three years, I have (essentially) the number of plants that
I started with.

Thanks again,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

Kenneth wrote:

On Sat, 4 Jun 2005 20:54:37 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:


"Steve" wrote in message
...

Kenneth wrote:

Howdy,

I have a bed with several variety of apparently healthy
strawberry plants but they have produced few flowers.

Are soil nutrients the likely culprit? If so, which one(s)?

Thanks for any help,


Have you been growing these for a while... a few years? Did they do
better the first year of two? Have you let them get too crowded?


When did the first few flowers appear? The plants don't all flower at once.

Did you fertilize them last fall? If so, how much nitrogen did they get?
Too much N can inhibit flowering.

Or what Steve said. Maybe it's time to rejuve the bed with new plants.



Hello again,

Do you know the relationship between nitrogen content and
the tendency of the plants to throw off runners? In the
three years, I have (essentially) the number of plants that
I started with.

Thanks again,

Nitrogen would encourage more runners. If you are getting few flowers
AND few runners, something must be wrong. You didn't answer my question
about whether they produced better before this year. Is the soil really
bad where they are growing or something? What was growing there before?

Steve

On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 10:22:57 -0400, Steve
wrote:

Kenneth wrote:

On Sat, 4 Jun 2005 20:54:37 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:


"Steve" wrote in message
...

Kenneth wrote:

Howdy,

I have a bed with several variety of apparently healthy
strawberry plants but they have produced few flowers.

Are soil nutrients the likely culprit? If so, which one(s)?

Thanks for any help,


Have you been growing these for a while... a few years? Did they do
better the first year of two? Have you let them get too crowded?


When did the first few flowers appear? The plants don't all flower at once.

Did you fertilize them last fall? If so, how much nitrogen did they get?
Too much N can inhibit flowering.

Or what Steve said. Maybe it's time to rejuve the bed with new plants.



Hello again,

Do you know the relationship between nitrogen content and
the tendency of the plants to throw off runners? In the
three years, I have (essentially) the number of plants that
I started with.

Thanks again,

Nitrogen would encourage more runners. If you are getting few flowers
AND few runners, something must be wrong. You didn't answer my question
about whether they produced better before this year. Is the soil really
bad where they are growing or something? What was growing there before?

Steve

Hi Steve,

Few runners, and few flowers on otherwise healthy looking
plants. No, they did not do any better in years 1 or 2. And
finally, this was just untended meadow before I turned it
into the strawberry patch.

Does my situation sound like nitrogen depletion?

Thanks for any further thoughts,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

Kenneth wrote:

On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 10:22:57 -0400, Steve
wrote:


Kenneth wrote:


On Sat, 4 Jun 2005 20:54:37 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:



"Steve" wrote in message
...


Kenneth wrote:


Howdy,

I have a bed with several variety of apparently healthy
strawberry plants but they have produced few flowers.

Are soil nutrients the likely culprit? If so, which one(s)?

Thanks for any help,


Have you been growing these for a while... a few years? Did they do
better the first year of two? Have you let them get too crowded?


When did the first few flowers appear? The plants don't all flower at once.

Did you fertilize them last fall? If so, how much nitrogen did they get?
Too much N can inhibit flowering.

Or what Steve said. Maybe it's time to rejuve the bed with new plants.



Hello again,

Do you know the relationship between nitrogen content and
the tendency of the plants to throw off runners? In the
three years, I have (essentially) the number of plants that
I started with.

Thanks again,

Nitrogen would encourage more runners. If you are getting few flowers
AND few runners, something must be wrong. You didn't answer my question
about whether they produced better before this year. Is the soil really
bad where they are growing or something? What was growing there before?

Steve


Hi Steve,

Few runners, and few flowers on otherwise healthy looking
plants. No, they did not do any better in years 1 or 2. And
finally, this was just untended meadow before I turned it
into the strawberry patch.

Does my situation sound like nitrogen depletion?

Thanks for any further thoughts,


Sorry to say, I'm running out of further thoughts. It doesn't seem like
only nitrogen depletion would cause this, especially if the plants
really look healthy. You said you had several varieties so I can't think
a different variety would solve anything. If it was a meadow before,
then I assume the area gets full sun. OK, I'm stumped.
If you are in the US your county probably has a county extension office.
If someone here doesn't come up with an idea for you, maybe you should
call the extension office and run it by someone there. They may have
insight into a local problem that nobody else would think of. Let us
know if anything comes from that.

Steve

Kenneth writes:
I have a bed with several variety of apparently healthy
strawberry plants but they have produced few flowers.

Are soil nutrients the likely culprit? If so, which one(s)?

My Mum has been growing strawberries for over 20 years. I asked her.
She said that if you have used excessive fertiliser you'll have all
leaf and not many fruit. Assuming excessive fertiliser is not the
problem, then go with Sulphate of Potash (use as directed) to encourage
flowering. You disolve it and water over the plants. She uses it to
encourage blooms in her flower garden, too.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Kenneth wrote:

On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 10:22:57 -0400, Steve
wrote:


Kenneth wrote:


On Sat, 4 Jun 2005 20:54:37 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:



"Steve" wrote in message
...


Kenneth wrote:


Howdy,

I have a bed with several variety of apparently healthy
strawberry plants but they have produced few flowers.

Are soil nutrients the likely culprit? If so, which one(s)?

Thanks for any help,


Have you been growing these for a while... a few years? Did they do
better the first year of two? Have you let them get too crowded?


When did the first few flowers appear? The plants don't all flower at
once.

Did you fertilize them last fall? If so, how much nitrogen did they
get?
Too much N can inhibit flowering.

Or what Steve said. Maybe it's time to rejuve the bed with new
plants.



Hello again,

Do you know the relationship between nitrogen content and
the tendency of the plants to throw off runners? In the
three years, I have (essentially) the number of plants that
I started with.

Thanks again,

Nitrogen would encourage more runners. If you are getting few flowers
AND few runners, something must be wrong. You didn't answer my question
about whether they produced better before this year. Is the soil really
bad where they are growing or something? What was growing there before?

Steve


Hi Steve,

Few runners, and few flowers on otherwise healthy looking
plants. No, they did not do any better in years 1 or 2. And
finally, this was just untended meadow before I turned it
into the strawberry patch.

Does my situation sound like nitrogen depletion?

Thanks for any further thoughts,


Sorry to say, I'm running out of further thoughts. It doesn't seem like
only nitrogen depletion would cause this, especially if the plants
really look healthy. You said you had several varieties so I can't think
a different variety would solve anything. If it was a meadow before,
then I assume the area gets full sun. OK, I'm stumped.
If you are in the US your county probably has a county extension office.
If someone here doesn't come up with an idea for you, maybe you should
call the extension office and run it by someone there. They may have
insight into a local problem that nobody else would think of. Let us
know if anything comes from that.

Steve

Are they June-bearers or everbearing?

Everbearing produce few runners. They are small plants and produce few
flowers and fruits.

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 19:53:33 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:

Are they June-bearers or everbearing?

Everbearing produce few runners. They are small plants and produce few
flowers and fruits.


June...
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

"Kenneth" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 19:53:33 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:

Are they June-bearers or everbearing?

Everbearing produce few runners. They are small plants and produce few
flowers and fruits.


June...
--

Well, that puts the kabosch on that diagnosis.

What about pH? Have we explored that possibility?

What about other gardeners in your area? Do they get better results?

What about grey mold? On the part of the berry that touches the ground; is
it soft and/or fuzzy grey?

When do you fertilize?

Sorry if some of this is going over old ground, but your last reply
truncated the thread.

Hello again,

Please see my comments inline below...


On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 21:02:43 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:


"Kenneth" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 19:53:33 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:

Are they June-bearers or everbearing?

Everbearing produce few runners. They are small plants and produce few
flowers and fruits.


June...
--

Well, that puts the kabosch on that diagnosis.

What about pH? Have we explored that possibility?

I've not checked. What should it be for strawberries?


What about other gardeners in your area? Do they get better results?

Much better. Many commercial growers of various sizes around
here.


What about grey mold? On the part of the berry that touches the ground; is
it soft and/or fuzzy grey?

None...


When do you fertilize?

When plants are starting to emerge.


Sorry if some of this is going over old ground, but your last reply
truncated the thread.


Not at all. I had no desire to truncate anything...

Thanks again,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

"Kenneth" wrote in message
...

Hello again,

Please see my comments inline below...


On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 21:02:43 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:


"Kenneth" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 19:53:33 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT
adelphia.net wrote:

Are they June-bearers or everbearing?

Everbearing produce few runners. They are small plants and produce
few
flowers and fruits.


June...
--

Well, that puts the kabosch on that diagnosis.

What about pH? Have we explored that possibility?

I've not checked. What should it be for strawberries?


Strawberries link acidic soils. Not sure of the exact range but
mid-to-upper 5 is my best guess.

What about other gardeners in your area? Do they get better results?

Much better. Many commercial growers of various sizes around
here.


What about grey mold? On the part of the berry that touches the ground;
is
it soft and/or fuzzy grey?

None...


When do you fertilize?

When plants are starting to emerge.


My cultural practices are different. I apply ferts (5-10-10) early summer
and again at the end of summer with. If it's dry, I irrigate.


Sorry if some of this is going over old ground, but your last reply
truncated the thread.


Not at all. I had no desire to truncate anything...

Thanks again,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."