Strawberries !

 
  Hey y'all , I have a strawberry question . I bought one of those packages
of 10
(June-bearing) plants at wallyworld , planted them in a prepped bed a week
or so
ago according to the package instructions . How long should it take before I
start seeing new growth ? These are well-rooted (roots 5-6" long) starts .
  The wife sez she doesn't think we'll get berries this year , but the web
sites I've looked at seem to indicate a small crop the first year ... and
better in succeeding years depending on how I care for them . I'm on new
ground here , haven't a clue what I'm getting into . But we love
strawberries , and for a couple of bucks worth of starts and a little work
I'm willing to try .

--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !

 Snag wrote:

It depends on the conditions, if it is too cold they won't do much.  If not
in full sun they will be slower.

These are well-rooted (roots 5-6"

You may get a small crop the first year.  Keep the weeds down and manure,
water and mulch during summer.  Note that mulch goes under the leaves :-)


David

 David Hare-Scott wrote:

  I prepared the bed by tiling  under some turf , letting it stand a couple
weeks , tilling in some compost , then laying a double layer of newspaper
topped with 3" of the same compost . Once they get a little growth I'll be
adding a layer of mulch too . There are no plans to use chemicals ... my
marigolds are sprouting !
  Top of compost is warm, 2" down is still pretty cool . The bed gets pretty
good sun from 9-ish until midafternoon . I'm probably just being impatient
...

--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !

 Snag wrote:

  i'm not sure where Snag is, but the
strawberries here in USDA zone 5 are
starting to show some new growth.

  we've not had much sunshine lately
and the temperature is rarely above
45F.  so they will grow in cloudy,
cold, wet weather, but i will expect
the most growth the happen once it
gets a little warmer and some sunny
days happen.



  they do best in full sun (unless you
are really far south, then they like
some late afternoon shade), so your
production might not be super heavy.

  covering the soil with newspaper
limits how fast it will warm up.  so
it could delay the rate of some of
your growth.

  when mulching in a bit, be careful to
not cover the crowns and be sure to
leave some space for air.


  songbird

 songbird wrote:

  I'm in Memphis Tn , and the weather can't seem to make up it's mind. We
set record highs one day and have 35° temps the next .

--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !