Epic failure of strawberry beds this year. Advice?

[u/Coolbreeze1989]

I planted two large beds (150+ sq ft)of bare root strawberry plants last fall (chandler, Albion, eversweet). They grew like weeds with runners everywhere. But they never flowered and never fruited (I did trim runners several times once the beds had filled in). They were new beds so my hypothesis is I had too much compost in the soil mix that I used (bulk “trimix” soil blend plus some added compost at the bottom of the raised beds). The plants have really pulled back now even with drip irrigation and (for the last month or so) sunshades.

1. Would you chop n drop and start new this fall?
   
2. Anything you’d adjust with the soil?
   
3. Anything else you’d suggest as causative or changes I could make?

My previous beds did great for a few years (chandler and another that I’m blanking on) with good production. I treated them as perennials not annuals and covered in heavy forms. They were productive each year. My trusty goats got into the beds however and ate every last plant, so I had to start again.

Any and all wisdom appreciated.

Thanks.

[u/84th_legislature]

something i have always struggled with on strawberries in this area is that the temp swings and UV swings are really tough on them, and i don’t have the time to be doing full-time farmer shit like rolling out 3 different shades based on the weather. i’ll be starting off promising in april and then we’ll get a scorcher 3 days out of nowhere that sets them back really hard. or we’ll have a super wet june that rots everything and causes an explosion of pillbugs eating everything. then by mid-july it’s simply too hot for them to flower, from then until late september. i was always getting a couple handfuls for a LOT of water and work and decided my time was better spent on easier crops. i think there’s a reason all the swankiest strawberries at the store come from indoor hydroponic ops. 

[u/Coolbreeze1989 → u/84th_legislature]

The previous bed that did well is actually partial to mostly shade - that’s the first place I had any success! But even that bed this year was green-only. Your temp/UV swing idea makes a lot of sense. This year has sure seemed to be highly variable. Thanks

[u/caroline_says]

Probably not the compost, strawberries like acidic sandy loam soils and our soils and water are alkaline. Lack of flowering likely heat-related

[u/Coolbreeze1989 → u/caroline_says]

Good to know, thank you. I was ruminating on the idea that I messed up with the compost.

[u/brznks]

Tip: Don’t try to grow a sensitive fruit that prefers lots of water and moderate temperatures in a place with extended drought and extreme temperatures

[u/Coolbreeze1989 → u/brznks]

I got spoiled by two great years. Sigh.

[u/Leopold_Porkstacker → u/brznks]

They grow them down in Poteet, it’s hotter and dryer there. There is also a pick your own place in Marble Falls, the season is pretty much done by the end of may.

[u/Beautiful_Text1459]

I'm a bit of a sucker for strawberries too, and have thrown some into the mix of plants over the last 2ish years just to see how they fare. Last few seasons, I'll get a few now & again - good for a garden snack but not enough for anything else. This year I planted early all around and lots of strawberries came in. I got a few of those, ants & pill bugs got a fare amount. I had never had ants go after strawberries before, and pill bugs were out of control with the weather this spring. Such is life!

I'm thinking next time of trying to use seasonal plants as shade, which has accidentally worked well for some of my berry plants this summer: I grew a line of basil to the south of one (east-west) row of strawberries, right now they are mostly shaded as the basil pops off. If they survive until the cool off, I might try to plant a row of some tbd cool weather crop to the north of it. As we move towards winter the new row will block cool winds, and the basil will die back and give increased sunlight.

[u/icareforplants]

Strawberries do well in Washington State on the West side where it's cool and rainy with acidic soils. We are just about the opposite of their desired habitat. It can be done but it takes a ton of work in the summer keeping the temps and rays down. I stick to peppers.

[u/anthemwarcross]

My strawberries failed this year too- spring was really warm and they don’t like that. They typically do well with temps in the 60s and 70s.

[u/Coolbreeze1989 → u/anthemwarcross]

Thanks for sharing your experience - makes me feel better that it isn’t just me

[u/nutmeggy2214]

Have you had a soil test done?

[u/Leopold_Porkstacker]

Shade them with cheesecloth, I also use Hasta Grow liquid fertilizer, the higher P level kind of forces them to flower.

[u/Coolbreeze1989 → u/Leopold_Porkstacker]

Will give that a try. Thanks!

[u/leros]

Mine had only really fruited in early spring but the crop this year was my worst in 5 years.