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Post by lily on Apr 30, 2007 16:24:24 GMT
I have 2 strawberry plants in pots and intend to plant them out over the next week or so.
Here comes the stupid bit... when it comes to putting straw down to keep the fruit off the ground, will any straw do? I've got a couple of gardening books but they don't actually say. I know the garden centre sells bags of it but is it all the same or do I need a special one?
Thanks! xxx
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Post by Fi on Apr 30, 2007 21:44:08 GMT
Any well dried straw will do - but a lot will come with weed seeds as a freebie, as we found out some years ago after buying a bale from a local farmer - the subsequent crop of rampant thistles was most impressive. However, fresh strawberries, warm from the sun, are taste bud heaven and worth a bit of extra time weeding. I presume the stuff from garden centres is expensive, but enough for two plants shouldn't require an overdraft. As an alternative, I'd be tempted to grow them on in bigger pots - it's easier to keep slugs at bay and no need for straw at all. I've also grown them successfully in hanging baskets. One serious question - why only two plants, or are you planning to multiply in future years from the runners?
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Post by lily on Apr 30, 2007 21:51:21 GMT
Any well dried straw will do - but a lot will come with weed seeds as a freebie, as we found out some years ago after buying a bale from a local farmer - the subsequent crop of rampant thistles was most impressive. However, fresh strawberries, warm from the sun, are taste bud heaven and worth a bit of extra time weeding. I presume the stuff from garden centres is expensive, but enough for two plants shouldn't require an overdraft. As an alternative, I'd be tempted to grow them on in bigger pots - it's easier to keep slugs at bay and no need for straw at all. I've also grown them successfully in hanging baskets. One serious question - why only two plants, or are you planning to multiply in future years from the runners? Fi it was one of those things when we hadn't really had any intention of growing strawberries and then at the farmers market he happened to have 2 left...
The idea of the pots is good, thanks.
xxx
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Post by Suzy R Sopham on May 1, 2007 6:58:32 GMT
When we had strawberries in the garden and at the allotment I needed some straw for them.
I just bought some ordinary and very cheap pet straw from Wilkinsons which worked just fine!
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Post by Lord L on May 1, 2007 19:23:30 GMT
I believe the point of the straw is siimply to keep the fruit off the ground.
I wouldn't have thought that straw of any sort is essential: anything that comes between the 'berries' and the earth would do the job equally well.
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Post by revmichael on May 1, 2007 20:20:25 GMT
I believe the point of the straw is siimply to keep the fruit off the ground. I wouldn't have thought that straw of any sort is essential: anything that comes between the 'berries' and the earth would do the job equally well. But might not you need Ringworm for other duties my Lord?
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Post by ladydriver1 on May 3, 2007 14:45:44 GMT
Small glass jars, eg. baby food jars, protect growing strawberries from birds and act as mini greenhouses.
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Post by Denise R. Aching on May 4, 2007 5:31:49 GMT
What a good idea, Lady Driver and they would stop the slugs getting at them too.
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Post by revmichael on May 4, 2007 8:20:03 GMT
You also used to be able to buy some mats that can be faced around the plants. The only purpose is to keep the berries off the ground and so rotting. I think the bigger problem is to stop the bird from gobbling them up.
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Post by lily on May 4, 2007 12:10:38 GMT
You also used to be able to buy some mats that can be faced around the plants. The only purpose is to keep the berries off the ground and so rotting. I think the bigger problem is to stop the bird from gobbling them up. I know...we have some netting but must admit to being a tad nervous about them getting cought up in it.
xxx
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Post by Penny Drops on May 5, 2007 6:46:19 GMT
i'd like to grow strawberries too - but how do you stop the sqirrels eating them? They had my whole crop last year
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Post by Shuggie on May 5, 2007 7:48:13 GMT
Cocktail sticks - pointy end up - good for cats as well. Important: remember where you put them otherwise you'll end up with punctured fingers!
Alternative: Berberis Candidula prunings.
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Lucy Lastic
Young Limb
Another cynical ex hippy now working for the establishment
Posts: 33
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Post by Lucy Lastic on May 8, 2007 14:05:13 GMT
You also used to be able to buy some mats that can be faced around the plants. The only purpose is to keep the berries off the ground and so rotting. I think the bigger problem is to stop the bird from gobbling them up. I know...we have some netting but must admit to being a tad nervous about them getting cought up in it.
xxxOh please don't use netting over your fruit plants, birds get caught up it and can be injured or die if not rescued in time. I put black polythene (punch a few holes for drainage) on the ground between the plants (keeps the weeds down) and cover them in garden fleece. The birds can't get at the fruit and they can't get caught up in it either. If you only have a couple of plants you can buy either one of those chimney pot thingys or one of the hanging 'tubes'. It's a poly tube with holes in that you push the plants through. designed for flowers but good for strawberries too - and you don't have to bend to pick them!
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Post by lily on May 14, 2007 15:50:49 GMT
Thanks peeps. Am going to grow them in pots and see how I get on...room elsewhere is a bit tight really.
One thing Fi...the runners...do I just leave them or cut them off?
xxx
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Lucy Lastic
Young Limb
Another cynical ex hippy now working for the establishment
Posts: 33
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Post by Lucy Lastic on May 14, 2007 22:40:21 GMT
Thanks peeps. Am going to grow them in pots and see how I get on...room elsewhere is a bit tight really.
One thing Fi...the runners...do I just leave them or cut them off?
xxx Cut the runners off but plant them elsewhere, that way you'll increase your crop
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Post by lily on May 15, 2007 5:52:19 GMT
Thanks Lucy will give it a go.
xxx
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