Gardening - strawberries
I decided to plant some strawberries in a strawberry pot rather than the allotment, the idea being that they need too much care and I want them close to the house where we might actually pick them.
I got a large handmade terracotta strawberry pot from the Potting Shed in Northumberland - and it's retty good value. Beautifully made and only 10 quid more than a plastic strawberry pot (which, to be fair, must be the most overpriced item for the garden ever).
Organic strawberry plants from Welsh fruit stocks were delivered today, 5 each of Honeoye (early season), Hapil (mid) and Sophie (very late). I've also got a couple of alpine strawberries (a bit like wild strawberries) from last year.
The new plants are very small, hopefully we'll get some fruit at least.
In theory I know that strawberries need sandy soil, in practice I chucked in 8 l of coir and topped it up with seedling compost. It'll probably be too compact for them, hopefully they can live with it.
Also, it's still cold, windy and not yet frost free out, but I'm hoping they can deal with that too - the pot's going to be too heavy to move about and I don't have space indoors for them.
I guess if this experiment fails, we'll have to get some new plants from the nursery in April :)
Tiny k. was very patient while I was potting, but she only lasted halfway through, so after sloth's lunch (typing this with one finger... :) I'll go and finish off. There'll be a couple of plants left over that I'll probably plant in a pot somewhere.
Positioning the pot is also tricky, we have a beautiful south facing brick wall, but unfortunately it's also a wind hole. Our garden gets strong eastern winds due to the gap between our house and the next one, right along that wall.
A more sheltered position is underneath the bathroom window, which is west-facing - however, that corner seems to get sun very late in the day. Current plan is to use south-facing wall and try to erect some kind of wind shield. Or actually, maybe I'm better off leaving them in the wind sheltered position for now, and move them to the wall once it gets warmer. Options. Too many options.
[update] moved it to a sheltered spot by the house. It looks pretty nice, I'll post a picture oce I can get it off the phone. We might need another strawberry pot. And a smaller one for herbs. And a medium sized one with nasturtia. And one at the front of the house,,, :D
I got a large handmade terracotta strawberry pot from the Potting Shed in Northumberland - and it's retty good value. Beautifully made and only 10 quid more than a plastic strawberry pot (which, to be fair, must be the most overpriced item for the garden ever).
Organic strawberry plants from Welsh fruit stocks were delivered today, 5 each of Honeoye (early season), Hapil (mid) and Sophie (very late). I've also got a couple of alpine strawberries (a bit like wild strawberries) from last year.
The new plants are very small, hopefully we'll get some fruit at least.
In theory I know that strawberries need sandy soil, in practice I chucked in 8 l of coir and topped it up with seedling compost. It'll probably be too compact for them, hopefully they can live with it.
Also, it's still cold, windy and not yet frost free out, but I'm hoping they can deal with that too - the pot's going to be too heavy to move about and I don't have space indoors for them.
I guess if this experiment fails, we'll have to get some new plants from the nursery in April :)
Tiny k. was very patient while I was potting, but she only lasted halfway through, so after sloth's lunch (typing this with one finger... :) I'll go and finish off. There'll be a couple of plants left over that I'll probably plant in a pot somewhere.
Positioning the pot is also tricky, we have a beautiful south facing brick wall, but unfortunately it's also a wind hole. Our garden gets strong eastern winds due to the gap between our house and the next one, right along that wall.
A more sheltered position is underneath the bathroom window, which is west-facing - however, that corner seems to get sun very late in the day. Current plan is to use south-facing wall and try to erect some kind of wind shield. Or actually, maybe I'm better off leaving them in the wind sheltered position for now, and move them to the wall once it gets warmer. Options. Too many options.
[update] moved it to a sheltered spot by the house. It looks pretty nice, I'll post a picture oce I can get it off the phone. We might need another strawberry pot. And a smaller one for herbs. And a medium sized one with nasturtia. And one at the front of the house,,, :D