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Post by redbrick on Mar 27, 2007 19:36:59 GMT -5
I have two strawberry beds, each one is four feet by ten feet. The first bed is several years old, I'm thinking maybe five? The other one is only a year old. I bought fifty plants last year for the new bed, to the tune of six dollars and change per twentyfive plants. the varieties are Earliana and Cabot. Don't ask what the old bed was, I can't remember.
By the end of the season last year, it was clear that the old bed wasn't coming back...and the new plants' runners were escaping faster than drowning rats! In my lack of spare time, I just kinda ignored them and let them grow in the cocoa hull mulch. Boy am I glad I did! Just got done transplanting fifty beautiful strong baby plants from the walkways to the old bed, with even more left behind!
Even if the old bed was done in by disease (which I noticed none of, BTW), the plants are free, so what do I lose? A half-hour? Sounds like a worthwhile gamble to me!
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Post by lavandulagirl on Mar 27, 2007 19:43:00 GMT -5
Awesome! I swear there's no better breakfast than warm strawberries that you just picked, and a good cup of coffee. I need to get more strawberries this year, and I need to throw rocks at the rabbit that ate the plants I put in last year.
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Post by johno on Mar 27, 2007 20:33:08 GMT -5
I have tried growing strawberries a couple times, but never had great success. I'm pretty sure I followed whatever advice was available to me at the time, but obviously I missed something. Any good advice for growing strawberries? My wife really wants me to, and I have a hard time convincing her I can't...
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 27, 2007 22:15:05 GMT -5
Keep the strawberry patch free of any and all Chipmunks  and small children.  |
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Post by redbrick on Mar 28, 2007 19:03:32 GMT -5
Johno, I can't say that I have any tricks, really. I grow mine in raised beds, four feet by ten feet. They're spaced about ten inches (or so) apart. I like the triangular gridding, since I can get a few more plants in the bed. Mulch with leaves, preferably shredded, let as few runners grow as you can bear to, and keep a row cover over the plants to keep out the catbirds, and you should be in good shape. That's all I've got, 'cept maybe to feed them a little soybean meal over the winter.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 28, 2007 19:21:51 GMT -5
soybean meal? the Strawberries or the Catbirds?
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Post by redbrick on Mar 28, 2007 20:09:19 GMT -5
Uh, that would be for the strawberries! The catbirds can fend for themselves! They've gotten enough food from me already! The first year they got ALL of my strawberries, the little buggars!
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Post by houseodessey on Mar 28, 2007 20:20:55 GMT -5
Where did you get plants so cheap, Andy? Also, how many plants do you figure would give me a pint or 2 a week?
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Post by redbrick on Mar 29, 2007 17:23:54 GMT -5
Ummm, welllll, now that you mention it...I'm thinking maybe they were closer to ten dollars for twenty five plants, I just can't remember for certain. It was at a local greenhouse. I don't know who their supplier is. They may have grown them themselves. As for how many make a nice patch, I'd recommend fifty plants, at least as a starter. Keep in mind that when they come in, its in full force, unless you have everbearing strawberries. Which I personally don't think are worth the space they use, IMHO.
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Post by houseodessey on Mar 29, 2007 17:49:04 GMT -5
Well, I have 5 now but I could fit 50. Thanks for the help.
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