Picked four strawberry plants out of garden today, trimmed and cleaned them down and put in 13cm sq' pots in fridge. Idea is that they'll stay in there for about 6wks, coming out to be vegged under fluoros for 4wks. Planning on vegging 15/9, rising to 18/6. Flower and fruit allowing 6wks.

Seems a good plan on paper, even broke costs down (no scottish jokes please) and reckon on 80 watt grow for 10 wks is only going to be a fiver.

Any tips or comments?

Here they are

How are they getting their light whilst in the fidge?

hadn't thought of that, I've read and read on the web but never questioned light whilst in fridge. Another thing that I can't get a definite idea of is light/area requirements, watts/ft.

Is the fridge bit so that they think it's winter

Apparently so, 6wks recommended time.

And.........................it's been a complete failure!
Checked strawberry plants in fridge on Sunday and they were all turning mouldy, considered puffing some sulphur on them but decided not.
There you go. Reckon I need to do some more reading/learning.

BB,

Don't give up all hope, strawberry plants will sometimes rot right off in the natural but then sprout from the root stock in the spring.
I don't know if they need light while in the chilly/fridge stage but have heard of others that have used this method with great success.

How you gonna make your own cream ?

Magpie

Can't say I'm too keen on mouldy strawb' plants in fridge

Dont give up dude, I too am trying this, but had to root runners first. I am told that 10 days in the cold is enough to trigger the plants into believing its winter, shouldn't want to get too mouldy in that time. Perhaps now it is getting cold outside you can try some in the garage/basement where it is a little drier, or find a way to keep the air drier inside the fridge (oven baked Rock salt in a cloth puch can help absorb water, or silicon bags if you can get them.) Also giving the plants time to dry our before placing them in fridge, or a light misting with H2O2 to kill mould spores. Keep posting your results.....we all should be making more use of our growrooms I reckon:P

Cheers man, but plans abandoned for now.
Not good using growroom for soft fruit though, risk of mould and transfer to your 'more favourite' plants. Better to have other area for strawbs, etc.

Thanks though.

Well....just to say...I got my strawberries....a week after christmas, and only 2....but I got them!!
It takes real dedicated gardening obviously to get a serious crop together indoors....but....wjen the time comes I will have 30+ strawberry plants to plant out in the sunshine!

Nice one, Jozzer and well done.

What cracks me up about this thread is Raz's question and the first bit of my reply, sometimes I laugh so much it almost hurts.