Bedding Down The Strawberry Beds

Our strawberries did not do so well this year. Looking back and thinking about it some I think we had several factor leading to this:

1) unfavorable weather - It was cool, wet, and most definitely unsunny.

2) potassium - Our soil in the beds developed a potassium deficiency. I can solve this with bone meal, but if someone can think of another organic solution I would love to hear it.

3) plant age - I think we bought plants a year older than normal. This means they produced early but may be nearing the end of their productive time.

4) failure to properly perform winter care - we did not properly close the beds last year.

This year we properly closed the beds. I cut all the old foliage back. Covered up with straw, held that down with some sticks, etc, for weight, put some slug repellent down.

This spring I will be putting some fresh compost down, some potassium supplement of some sort, maybe a few fresh plants, particularly on the underused bed, and hope for some more affable weather.

Busy Weekend

Hello.

The girls and my parents were here this weekend. Had a great time and played lots of Agricola. Got some help with the garden as well. Didn't get quit as far as we hoped, but go far enough that we have some great pictures and some work to show. Shall we get too it?

Here we have all three of my kids staining the beds on the outside. Notice the little one was not supposed to be helping, hence no smock. He got one later. We had to till some earth to get the ground more to the planned form (I would say level, but thats not the case, we need to keep the drainage moving) and get the beds placed. Finally.

It feels SO good to have reached this point. I was hoping to have the beds filled and plants in, but it has been unseasonably cold (freeze warning last night!) that I think it will all work out for the better.

Also finished the strawberry beds. Now we have to get soil moved into the one and get it planted as well.

Have a good one!