Transplant/divide strawberry plants

In early May 2021 I planted bare strawberry roots in two 16'x4' raised beds. One bed full of "AC Valley" and the other bed half "Dickens" and half "Mira". I was told "AC Valley" is supposed the sweeter and better tasting berry while "Dickens" and "Mira" was a bit more sour and more suitable for baking.

All year I've been looking forward to try the "AC Valley" berries but it was a big disappointment...

I was only able to pick approximately 3 pounds of the "AC Valley" berries. They don't taste that good, have chewy parts in them, quite some bugs, split ends and looked weird. The plants also weren't that big and spread out compared to the other kinds.

From the other raised bed I picked almost 20 pounds of "Dickens" and "Mira" strawberries and they taste amazing.

Long story short; I want to remove the "AC Valley" and replace them with roots/plants from the other raised box. How and when (I'm in New Brunswick, Canada) would be the best way to do this? And will I have strawberries from them in 2023 or in 2024?

Hi Daniel,
I don't have specific dates, but generally speaking you would wait until these plants produce runners and the runners have rooted. Typically in the fall. Dig up those runners, cut the stem to the mother plant, and plant in the new spot. Some people will dig them up and put them in pots, but not cut the stem to the mother plant until spring. That way the babies get some extra help and then are transplanted in the spring. I believe many commercial places may dig them in the fall an refrigerate until spring, but don't quote me on that.

Regardless if you get them in the ground early spring 2023, I don't see why you wouldn't have strawberries in 2023. The yield will not be as much as if they have had a year to settle in, but I would expect some off most of the strawberry varieties. Some people suggest picking blossoms off the first year to allow the plant to grow and then have a bumper crop the second year. Personally I like strawberries and I have never done this. I'd rather have some right now and some next year.

You can do it anytime from now until the ground freezes but if you do it now, you'll have to water a lot to keep the transplants alive. So I would wait until it starts to cool off in the fall and give them a month or more to get their roots growing in the new spot before it freezes.  Just take a few plants here and there and move them over. Then let them all fill in the gaps in both boxes next year with their runners.

You can also wait until the spring to do it, as soon as the ground is not frozen, but they won't be as well established. You'll get more berries if you do it in the fall.

Thanks, I will give it a try in the fall!