This is the new location of the strawberry patch. Grass and weed ridden throughout. I started the work of getting the plot ready, and thankfully later in the month my mom came to visit. She helped me finish it up! So grateful for her help, honestly I don't know if I would have gotten it finished without her. I was about to run out of steam.
This is part of the area, the plants have taken well to the soil they are now planted in. Unfortunately this crazy warm weather (even for us here in Florida), has gotten the plants a bit confused. Over half of them are now in bloom.
My beloved is awesome at getting things like the water sprinkler system done for our gardens. I feel so spoiled by his awesome skills! This year we will be making sure to keep the water on the plants as recommended, about 1 inch a week. We will also be adding some of our organic fertilizer (aka rabbit droppings and goat droppings) throughout the growing season. We plan to mulch the rows with straw, hay and a mixture of leaves to keep the moisture in and the weeds out.
I am looking forward to picking strawberries for eating as a snack, making strawberry jam, strawberry short cake, and maybe even dehydrating some if the harvest is big enough. We have along way to go before harvest. I can assure you that much hoeing, weed pulling and watering will go on before I pull the first strawberry from a plant.
You inspire me friend!! 500!!! Kraut!!! I love learning from your example!!~Trina
ReplyDeleteAwe, thanks Trina! Isn't it great how we learn great things from each other? So grateful God has placed you in my life! Still over the top joyous for your new spot of heaven on earth. Enjoy!
DeleteWow! What a patch! It looks wonderful. I'm hoping to plant strawberry plants sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteBe prepared on late for for some runners to start shoot off each plant. You can either snip them off.. or let them grow and transplant them. I of course would do the later in the beginning. This year.. since we have so many.. we will probably be snipping! Wish you were near by.. would love to give you some plants! But, from our example.. if you start with a few.. in just a couple of years you will have tons!
DeleteAhhh, yes! The days of strawberry planting! The year before our daughter started her first year of college we planted 500 plants with the goal of them producing and using the money at harvest's end to pay for her first semester...at least. There was much labor involved, just as you know from your own experience and the cash crop did what it was intended to do. Once we moved, it became hard to grow berries due to the very short growing season here at our new location. I know you will put to good use the fruit of your labors.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome Dianna! Can you tell me, where did you guys sell them? What kinds of fertilizer did you put on them? How often? Did you keep them well watered? Any other tips I need to glean from you dear one? I love that story!!!
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