Commercial growers near Auckland Airport replant every season about now and always have flourishing plants which suggests keeping new runners and ensuring plenty of fertiliser. I am about to renew last years plants with own grown fresh runners , under black plastic, and using a Strawberry soil mix.
I hope it works !!!!

I will take your lead, and do the same. I live in Southland, so I persume the same will apply, regardless of cooler winter. Had our 1st decent frost this morning. Its been so mild ,and have flowering cherry and spring bulbs flowering as well. The winterless northy doesnt always get all the perks.Guer

grah025
Just wondering why you cover your strawberry plants with black plastic and for how long?
I seem to have had a lot of new plants come up from the one remaining plant I had from last year. I just cut the runners off from between each plant, hope it works.

melsy

Blackplastic - obtainable from nurseries - covers ground , acts as weed suppressor, warms up soil to assist root and plant development, plant thro slits and is therefore permantly in place. Cheap method is to use black rubbish bags sliced each side - goes a long way.

Yes, the black plastic rubbish bags are what I use, and the same ones are going to do the job again. Saves weeding, and the rain funnels down into the root system. The strawberries are also off the soil, so dont rot or get covered so much by the leaves. Guer