We had planned replacing one bed of under-performers already…but my Bride came up with the luminous idea to act quickly and order a new bunch now rather than wait until August. Tja…Bril !! We researched and came up with the ‘Falco’…a dubious-sounding name to us, but ach; the listed qualities were what we wanted. Our strawb guy was contacted and an order places…the wheels were set in motion. It was time to clean our old beds out and freshen-up the beds anyway. So then, all the things done in one fell swoop, and klaar is Kees (Bob’s yer uncle, as it goes in English). Right then, lets get on with it. Here one of the two old beds: The beds were full of mulch and dead leaves, so that all had to be removed, then weeded and some old stal manure added for food. Here they are all ship-shape and Bristol fashion: And a few days later: Well, that all went well, but now for the new bed. The thick mulch layer had to be rolled-back, weeded, raked and the soil had to be woel-ed…then raked again to be ready to take the plants when they would arrive. Well, the plants did arrive some days later and we planted them the same day they arrived. They look measly now but we have our fingers crossed. Addendum: an update— the old plants are now showing the first flowers.
those are so beautiful. I am going to need to plant new strawberries as squirrels dug up the ones I transplanted last year (the rhubarb was getting so big it covered the strawberries). Silly squirrels trying to hide their nuts. But I can't wait to see more of them!
Shaw— it sounds like you may have to enclose your strawbs with some netting or wire mesh. Darn aquirrels !
I did get rid of one of their homes (a big tree that got damaged in a wind storm last year) and hope to get rid of the only other tree on my property that they can use this year (it too is pretty dangerous as it's been hit by lightning and is split a bit, i'm surprised they didn't take it down when they were taking all the other trees down before I got my house) But also i transplanted the strawberries at a time where the squirels needed to find the easiest place to hide their stash I think lol.
Sjoerd, those old strawberry plants really perked up with your care! I bet there will be a bumper crop. I'm sure the new ones will start growing quickly, in their new posh garden home. You were the inspiration for me starting strawberries again last year. This time, all in containers so I can give them better care. They have also started to bloom now. I can't upload an image now, will try again later.
There they are! So far, I have three of those containers, of six, on the drip lines. Three more to go. I think that will help me a lot this summer. The alpine strawberrries are also blooming nicely.
Daniel—yes, they sure did ! Today i saw that there are quite a few more blooms open now. I am getting excited. The newbies are putting out tiny new leaves. How cool that you were inspired and now are growing your strawbs in containers. I know that growing them in containers have their own rules, but I know you will get a handle on the techniques. …and there they are! They are looking very happy there. How old are these plants, BTW? The drop lines ought to help while the plants are in bloom. It is so important. Go Daniel, go !
Looking good Sjoerd and Daniel The plants we have in the fruit tunnel are mostly decended from plants I've rounded up from the garden. Although Tetters did buy some new plants of "Gauntlett" strawberries a few years back. They should be fruiting this year. We keep a few pots in the polytunnel for an early crop. They're in pots that stand in trays of water to keep the slugs off. Should get the first picking in a week or so.
I bought the plants last year by mail order, in March 2024. I planted 8 per container. Over the summer, I realized they were too crowded, so this winter I separated and replanted, 4 per container. They are "Ozark Beauty", which bears strawberries all summer long. They produced last year, a few berries each day. This year they look like they will produce much more. I think the container method is ideal for me. They sit at a height where I don't have to bend over to care for them. Last year I watered daily by hand. This year I want them to be a bit easier, hence the drip irrigation. 2025 is forecast as a hotter summer. I didn't get all of the Alpine strawberry plants thinned. About 2/3 done. It will be a good comparison, thinned vs. crowded, unless I thin them soon.
Ozark Beauty— that sounds familiar. I do not know much about the sort of strawbs that you grow— ever-bearing ones. We call that sort, doordragers. They are popular ones on the Allotment Complex and several folks have built raised structures (about mid-chest high) to house their doordragers. The neighbour lady has these elevated structures for her strawbs and I take care of them for her when she goes on hols. As you can imagine I tease her for abandoning her garden for something so trivial as a vacation. Hahaha.
