Sunday 22 January 2012

Oh Strawberry patch....where should you go???

Ok...so I have no intentions of going down to the allotment...it is VERY windy and those winds have a nasty bite to them so I am planning things ready for a turn in the weather and for this one i would like the help of my readers!

I have always had strawberries off Kate's patch as she has a huge amount of plants in the ground which are way too many for her and her partner to eat alone so I have always had some wonderful pickings off them. Anyway this year Kate has decided to reduce the size of her patch as she would like to get a shed and salad patch going. This will be a great idea for her but it also means that IF I want strawberries I will have to plant my own. Now it's STRAWBERRIES people...how can any sane person go a season without them so of course I want some...and Kate has even said I can have runners from her so I will be eating the same delicious strawberries.

So why do I need your help??

Basically I'm not sure the best place to plant them!! I have narrowed it down to two locations but can't decide which might be for the best....So if you all let me know what you think and maybe a reason why...it might help me to make a final decision.


top end of the allotment for strawberry patch??
Ok, so I have narrowed it down to this side of the allotment. As you know I have the shed and fruit bushes at the top end and below are the raspberry canes which are planted at the bottom end. What I don't know is which end to put in the strawberries. I think there are probably pro's and cons to each side so a little input on my readers thoughts might really help here.

bottom end of allotment for strawberry patch??

So there you have it,,,this is my present quandary which I really would like some help with....I'm not really bothered why you pick a side...just pick one and let me know....maybe it could end up going to a vote. I just know that January will soon draw to a close and I have to make a decision so that I can get the ground prepared before Kate starts digging up those wonderful plants!!

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14 comments:

  1. Strawberries like it sunny but out of the wind, so whichever side is most sheltered would get my vote.

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    1. My allotment plot is in the middle of the allotments Kevin so it's open all the way round...as for sun...with the shed being one end then it does get a little shaded that side...so do I go for the raspberry cane end??

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  2. wish I could offer an opinion but I have no idea. My best chance of getting strawberries is either the grocery store or one of those pick your own farms :)

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    1. Oh Ann....grocery store strawberries are nowhere near as delicious as the ones you grow yourself....If you didn't live way over in the States i would post you a punnet and convert you to growing your own immediately!!

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  3. I wouldn't put them too near the raspberries as the raspberry suckers may come up in the middle of your strawberries and the strawberry runners may come up in amongst your raspberries. Also keeping the two apart will allow for easier netting. And also if the birds spot your raspberries they'll have further to fly to eat both your raspberries and strawberries at once!

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    1. I get one your saying about the suckers Sue....but as for netting...we just never have before. I don't know why but the birds don't tend to go for my raspberries.....I wonder if I put my strawberries up near the shed where the bushes and pond are whether they would be more inclined to take a nibble?? Oh great now i have something else to consider.. :-(

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    2. We don't net our raspberries either although the blackbirds do manage to nibble a few - I was thinking more of the strawberried and the netting getting mixed up in the raspberry canes.

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    3. Where the strawberries are now the birds don't bother them and we have never netted....and the raspberry canes are closer to the original bed so maybe that is another thing to consider too?!?!?!?!

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  4. I'm putting some new strawberries in the ground this year too. Just remember that the plants only last for three to four years and then you need new plants, and these should be planted in a new bed, so wherever you plant them now will only be for three to four years.

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  5. I remember that the plants need moving...and for wherever I place them I have a moving schedule sorted...it's just the initial resting place I would like some help with really!!

    And I still don't know where that's going to be.. :-(

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  6. We have had raspberries and strawberries planted next to each other for many years, and there has been some mixing but both are thriving still. Consider what other things you may plant nearby, garlic and strawberries like each other and both are semi-permanent beds.

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    1. Hi Pink...sounds like the strawberries and raspberries will probably like each others company. I have never kept my garlic in a permanent bed...i have always rotated it with my other crops so I will be looking into this further.....thanks for the tip.

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  7. I'd plant them farther away from the shed. My grandpa used to have strawberries that almost took care of themselves, so they didn't need to be looked after as much. I may ave that all wrong as I was only a kid back then. I'd only decide where to plant them after I take the location needs of other plants into consideration as well.

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    1. No your right Ratty...strawberries do pretty much tend to themselves...you just have to make sure they don't get strangled by weeds whilst getting themselves established. With that in mind then I guess they don't need to be so near to the tools....so many things to consider!!

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keep it clean...keep it relevant...I look forward to reading your comments!!