Your strawberry plants certainly have enough potential for perennial cultivation in the garden and on the balcony. Targeted cutting after harvest paves the way for a second season. This is how the procedure works.

The best time to cut back is after harvest

Immediately after the last strawberry is harvested, the plant starts the vegetative process of preparing for winter. After a two to three week rest period, she begins feeding on the fiber from the foliage. These act as inhibitors inside the plant, preventing renewed bud formation. If you prune your strawberry plants in time, this process will be interrupted.

  • cut off all dead flowers
  • Cut back discolored foliage completely
  • only leave the selected offshoots on the plant for propagation

The heart bud is spared from the pruning. The sole aim of this care measure is to prevent the migration of the inhibitors from the flowers and leaves into the interior of the plant.

Cut back climbing strawberries boldly

Although strawberries do not have special adhesive organs, they can be trained to become climbing plants. If the long tendrils find support on a trellis right from the start through targeted attachment, they will thrive in the right location. Care can be taken care of without the hassle of bending down. Since this form of cultivation is not suitable for propagation by stolons, cut back radically:

  • cut off all tendrils at the end of the harvest season
  • remove spent leaves and wilted flowers
  • only the heart bud remains

It is important to note that you do not give the strawberry plant time to absorb the inhibitors from the foliage. Therefore, use the short rest period after harvest to cut back. After a successful hibernation, the climbing strawberries will sprout again next spring.

Do not cut offshoots too early

The offshoots have a special status in this interaction. All offshoots selected for propagation remain on the mother plant until they have developed an independent root system. The vital tendrils need a certain amount of time for this vegetative process. While a section of the offshoot takes root in a buried pot, the nutrient supply should be secured by the mother plant.

Do not cut off the shoot until you feel strong resistance when you pull it carefully. Use a sharp, disinfected knife to prevent the cut from fraying. If an offshoot extends beyond the propagation pot, you can cut off this section. It would consume unnecessary plant energy.

tips and tricks

Is cutting off low-growing ground cover strawberries with your permanently bent back too tedious? Then use the lawn mower to cut back after the harvest. The robust varieties will reliably sprout next year.

Category:

Vegetable garden