Hi, how do I maintain my Pajero strawberry plants in a large planter pot after fruiting. Do I tidy them up and keep feeding, watering etc

Hi Jan, autumn is a good time to tidy up strawberry plants both in the garden and in pots. Remove any old brown leaves especially leaves that may have black spot as diseases overwinter in the soil, and any straggly fruit which probably won't come to much. If the plants have produced runners these can be planted in pots for fruiting next season, this keeps your plants regenerating as after three seasons yields start to decrease. Continue watering plants, especially if autumn is dry, but they won't require as much water, it is also a good time to give them another feed, for plants in pots use Tui Enrich Fruit & Citrus controlled release fertiliser, and Tui Strawberry food for plants in the garden, this will help improve fruiting next season, occasional liquid feeds with Tui Seaweed & Fish will also be beneficial. Autumn is a good time to remove any straw mulch, if you have used it, from around the plants, this will help keep slugs and snails at bay during winter, place more Tui Strawberry Straw around the plants again in spring. Lianne.