===== Winter care =====

==== Culling =====

{{:garden:about:plants:strawberries:img_1406.jpg?320 |More than thinning I removed the ever-bearing plants, then I thin and transplant the June-bearing plants}}Fortunately, it happens that strawberries are ready to be thinned well after I have completed all other garden activities. After cooler weather and maybe a few light frosts to harden the newest plants I thin the plants to about six per square foot. 

I thin the least hardy of the plants from runners and remove the runners. Then I cover them with a straw mulch. The past two years we've had extended periods of below freezing temperatures with lows approaching 10 degrees, so I believe the precaution is appropriate.

==== Thinning ====

{{:garden:about:plants:strawberries:img_1409.jpg?300 |I'm part way through here, still need to transplant and mulch.}}First I took out all the plants that were in the area of the ever-bearing strawberries. This was originally about half the bed. I found a couple of other gardeners who were interested in planting them. 

I wasn't pleased with the size and performance of the "ever-bearing" strawberries so I weeded them out as best I could and transplanted runners from the June-bearing plants. We'll see next August how effective I was in choosing.

==== Transplanting ====

{{:garden:about:plants:strawberries:img_1419.jpg?300 |Thinned and June-bearing transplanted}}Then I thinned the June-bearing plants, creating two rows to make picking easier (a lesson learned from the previous season) and transplanted some to the former location of the ever-bearing berries.
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==== Mulching ====

{{:garden:about:plants:strawberries:img_1428.jpg?300 |Mulched}}Before the really cold weather (low twenties and below, if I'm lucky) I took some of my rye straw, of which I have plenty at least this year, and covered the strawberry bed with at least four inches. And I forgot about the strawberry plants until spring, when I removed the straw to reveal plants that are ready to put out more runners and more fruit.

==== More info ====

Read more: [[http://www.gardenguides.com/69571-strawberry-plant-care-winter.html#ixzz3ICtstn7h|Strawberry Plant Care for Winter]] at Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/69571-strawberry-plant-care-winter.html#ixzz3ICtstn7h