tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post4749115928592953895..comments2024-03-28T19:35:24.365-07:00Comments on Rural Revolution: Planting strawberries (again)Patrice Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-44367333281703795692011-06-09T12:46:27.335-07:002011-06-09T12:46:27.335-07:00OPCCook - thanks for the info, I just came back to...OPCCook - thanks for the info, I just came back to this post to ask Patrice some of the questions you answered. I am going to hopefully get me a little strawberry patch started, but wasn't sure what to do for the winter after the plants died...so the new plants will just grow up where the old ones were? I know you don't pull the whole plants out or that would defeat the purpose, but I wasn't sure what needed to be done...thanks!Kelly in GAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-55694242762620510582011-06-07T18:49:56.108-07:002011-06-07T18:49:56.108-07:00Looking good Patrice, good luck!
OPCCook thanks ...Looking good Patrice, good luck! <br /><br />OPCCook thanks for the good advice :)<br /><br />AmandaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-79943860385726373082011-06-07T07:50:40.650-07:002011-06-07T07:50:40.650-07:00Thanks OPCCook, this is EXACTLY the kind of info I...Thanks OPCCook, this is EXACTLY the kind of info I need. I'm afraid I'll have to stick with cow manure since that's what we have, but I didn't know about clipping the runners and starting new plants. I'd heard about pinching off the blossoms for the first years (pause to wipe a tear away) and though it breaks my heart, I'll do that. I want these babies to be as strong and healthy and productive as they can be.<br /><br />- PatricePatrice Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-17323005173720939692011-06-07T07:04:26.331-07:002011-06-07T07:04:26.331-07:00Patrice, just thought that I would share what we h...Patrice, just thought that I would share what we have learned over the years. We raise strawberries too (had an awesome year)and I realize that Okie climate and Idaho climate are totally different languages, but one thing that we have found makes all the difference is sand and peat moss. Even if you have topsoil, sprinkle a layer of sand and then one of peat moss onto your rows and work that in. It helps with drainage and strawberries need good drainage. Also, we have found that mulching between the rows is important to hold in moisture and to keep them cool in the heat. Also, we use horse manure on our beds, but if we could get sheep manure that would be even better. We are not crazy about cow manure. However, we have also found that we have to use a commercial fertilizer of 13-13-13 for the strawberries as well. They are kinda persnickity. I know your winters are harsh, and ours can be, so we cover the plants before the frost sets in with straw or leaves. <br /><br />Next year, after you clean off the covering, when your plants come up (hate to tell you this) pull off all of the flowers so that the plants do not produce. If you will do that, you will have bigger, healthier strawberries the next year. As they put out runners, plant the ends in the rows and get them started and then clip the runner part. That keeps your rows in line and not meandering all over the place. You will pick off the flowers of those new plants the following year. So in other words, you'll have berries from the two year old plants and none from the one year old each year. Does that make sense? Not trying to tell you what to do, but just sharing what we learned the hard way over the past 15 years of strawberries!! Good luck!! :-)OPCCookhttp://www.oklahomapastrycloth.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-54701011987567326432011-06-06T18:34:07.395-07:002011-06-06T18:34:07.395-07:00Okay, now you're talking my language: gardens!...Okay, now you're talking my language: gardens! <br /><br />Since I'm a semi-vegetarian, my garden is really important to me. When you garden, you literally alter the very face of the planet with your bare hands! Wow, the power is almost overwhelming. <br /><br />Contrary to your proclamations about your black thumb, I think you DO know what you're doing. These beds are terrific. <br /><br />(You have fencing around your new beds, right? Moles and voles aren't the only critters that LOVE strawberries. Birds, rabbits and mice will give you a run for your money. My tiny strawberry patch - about 1/4 the size of yours, but getting bigger by the day - is always under constant attack. Chicken wire is our friend...)<br /><br />Just MeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-61887276875785851492011-06-06T17:39:26.926-07:002011-06-06T17:39:26.926-07:00Good luck! =)Good luck! =)Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00622338474989335764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-11324747810649909322011-06-06T16:05:44.503-07:002011-06-06T16:05:44.503-07:00i admire you for your tenacity(which you seem to h...i admire you for your tenacity(which you seem to have plenty of-LOL!) I hope you have wonderful success. I planted a few but instead of the clay issues we have rocks and more rocks so we decided that next winter we will be working on raised beds.I will be interested in seeing how things work out using the hardware cloth.danniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09927115644696786196noreply@blogger.com