why are my strawberries small and nasty?

[MsBug]

I have some strawberry plants in my back garden which have been there for a few years and have until recently been left to their own devices. They were in some dry sandy soil under a tree and didn't seem to produce any fruit (although we didn't go into the garden much so maybe the birds ate it). About a month ago I dug them up and put them in my new veg patch with lovely fresh compost and started watering them every day. They have started to produce fruit but the berries are tiny and don't taste nice at all - they are dry and very sharp. The fruit are dark red on the outside but white on the inside.

They are in the sunniest part of the garden but that's still quite shady, they get morning and evening sun only (north facing garden).

Does anyone know why this is and what should I do? Should I just give up on these plants, dig them up and get new ones? Or is it the lack of sun?

[Bearleigh]

It is possible that they are wild strawberries - they have small or tiny berries, dark skin, tiny seeds and white flesh, and fruit throughout the summer if you keep picking them. They actually prefer being in shade, preferably damp shade. They have a perfumed taste that takes some getting used to, but once you are, they are gorgeous.

Otherwise, though it's unlikely this year, if it's dry when the berries are forming and you don't water, the berries on cultivated strawberries are small and horrid (happened to me!). Strawberries are only supposed to last about 3 years being productive - so that could be another reason for it.

[BuzzardBird]

They do sound like the wild strawberries that are covering most of my garden. I haven't the heart to pull them out as the birds love them.

[catsofa]

Sounds like not enough water at the right time.

[MsBug]

Thanks, they aren't wild strawberries as I planted them when we first moved in, then ignored them for a couple of years .

I have now started watering them so hopefully the next lot will be nicer. If notthen then I'll get some new ones - my garden's too small to grow food for the birds