Strawberry Bed or Tubs ?

Hi,

Starting off a new Strawberry patch and have usually grown them direct into the ground but now thinking they might be better in large tubs so the fruit can fall over the sides of the tubs and so avoid resting on the ground which means the slugs can readily get at them.
Have used Barley straw around them in the past but it does not stop all the slugs and snails ruining the fruits.
Only talking about 12-20 plants.

 

I usually do both depending on space/spare containers. Even in containers, the fruit doesn't always just "fall" in 1 direction. I've had a good crop in both beds and containers. Not just slugs/snails but birds are also pretty quick at spotting ripening fruit too.

 

Just not those holey strawberry pots! they need irrigation or theyre useless

I do mine in pots and they do rest on the leaves or over the side.
Maybe consider ridges? ofc that needs control of where the suckers go.

 

Agree about those Strawberry Planters. I'd never use those.

 

Yeh- those 'so called' strawberry planters are worse than useless. You'd get one at the top growing quite well - as long as you blocked up all the other holes!
I grow some in a wall basket now which helps enormously with the slug problem, and I've always grown them in pots because of the slugs. I think that Strulch stuff can be quite good for keeping the soil clear, but I've never tried it. I tend to use small branches to keep the stems lifted off the soil, which is quite useful, because, as @Philippa says, they don't just conveniently fall in one direction.
I have lots in the ground in various places which the birds etc eat, and they provide some ground cover.
I'm not that keen on strawberries - but I don't want to just get rid of them. Silly really.

 

Pegged down a load of runners last week, cannot remember their names without going out to check the labels, but early,mid and late varieties, could give you a shout in a few months if we have more than we need ?

 

That's a pity @Fat Controller . Not something I've had a problem with. The ones I have are Elsanta, which were a present from my sister when I moved into my house round the corner from here - over 30 years ago. They've come with me to each house since!
I've just taken runners off them, and they all seem to be fine, so -like @ricky101 , if you wanted a few, I can send some, as I won't have room for them all and they'll mainly just fill gaps in the front garden for wildlife. They're a very reliable type.

 

No worries @Fat Controller - and don't worry about postage. If you want some now, just message me and I'll get them off to you while they're small!
I don't think v. weevil's as bad here as in some places, but I've never really thought about it. I accidentally brought them into this garden, courtesy of a plant I bought, which was annoying. They haven't been a massive problem, apart from a bit of aesthetic damage to a few shrubs. Even the Heucheras haven't struggled too badly - I had one in a pot that needed totally cleaned up a few years back, but that's about it. I never got any real damage in any other garden I've had either.

 

I have grown Strawbs for years in pots/containers and they were ok, this year I have moved some into the border in my greenhouse and we are struggling to eat them all, will not be growing them in pots again. I grow "Flamenco" a perpetual type, which here in North East Scotland do better under glass, it also cuts out the netting/bird problem too. Still picking them, though one or two are a bit "Jam" straws and a bit lumpy to look at but fab to eat.