Hi, I have a large raised strawberry bed with around 25 plants of various varieties. They fruited very well last year and I would like to do the same again this year. My question is, will the existing plants came away again this year or should I throw out the old plants and replace them with new ones for this season? Or could I lift and split the old plants and replant them after I have re-fertilised and composted the entire bed? Thanks, Paul.

This is a brilliant question! Strawberry plants have a reliable fruiting life of about three seasons, and then they should be removed and replaced with new plants.

Depending on the age of your plants you can lift and divide them this season if they are young and looking cramped for space.

For an abundant crop this year, prune off any large and tatty leaves now, and sprinkle Tui Strawberry Food around the base of the plants, then add a layer of strawberry straw around the outside of each plant. Also snip the running stem between the parent plants and any new ones that are popping up (these can be used as new plants!).

When spring arrives, remember to feed your strawberries every four weeks over the key growing season with Tui Strawberry Food.