Strawberry Help

[phkc070408]

So I planted my strawberries 2 years ago. Last year I got a nice crop, but they were all relatively small.

I made a few mistakes.
1. I planted both Junebarings and Day Neutrals. The June Bearings were all on the one half gf the garden in 2 rows, and the Day Neutrals are in the other half of the garden, in 2 rows.
2. I didn't realize the plants would spread so quickly, and I now can't tell which are the runner plants and which ore the parent plants.

Last year, I got a good size crop, but they were all relatively small and not very sweet.

After my crop was harvested, I used the weedwhacker to take the tops and leaves off of the plants, but protected the main ball that the leaves and roots grow from. I applied some organic fertilizer including some Urea. hey remained uncovered for the winter, since it doesn't get very cold here.

I'm starting to get some flowers now. I just went outside with a clean paintbrush and assisted with the pollination, since insects are very few and far between. I also noticed that some of my buds have a small green strawberry already, while others have a dark center.

I want to know what I'm doing right, what I'm doing wrong, and what my next steps should be.

Specific questions:
1. Should I apply some more fertilizer now?
2. Should I continue with the assisted polination?

Thanks

 

[redback]

Apply seaweed (kelp) to the leaves and flowers at the recommended rate now and every two weeks.

I'm not sure about the types as you name them but the ones that fruit three times can be thinned out after their first crop has finished. Keep the old leaves and stems pruned.

I think you have planted them into a black plastic mulch. If the crop is small again this year you need more fertile soil and should transplant all the runners next winter.

 

[phkc070408]

What do you mean by applying kelp to the leaves? How do I apply it to the leaves and not the whole garden? It will fall off of the leaves the first time the wind blows.

 

[redback]

What do you mean by applying kelp to the leaves? How do I apply it to the leaves and not the whole garden? It will fall off of the leaves the first time the wind blows.

Sorry, I mean liquid seaweed. It's available in many gardening outlets.

 

[phkc070408]

Sorry, I mean liquid seaweed. It's available in many gardening outlets.

Liquid Seaweed. Thanks.

How about the assisted pollination with the paintbrush?

Also, what to you mean by transplant the runners? Do you mean plant them in another garden? If I'm going to plant them in this garden, why wouldn't I just let them go in the ground naturally?

Finally, I don't believe I have any mulch on them. If I did mulch them, it wasn't a plastic mulch. It would have been a standard Home Depot Black Wood Mulch.

Earthgro 1.5 cu. ft. Black Wood Shredded Bagged Mulch 88559180 - The Home Depot

Instantly beautify your landscape with this Earthgro Black Mulch. Helps conserve soil moisture and moderate temperature.

www.homedepot.com