There is no fruit like the strawberry for proving the value of organic methods of growing. It is a woodland plant or, should I say, a plant which loves to dwell on the edges of woodlands where it gets the sun and yet is constantly being 'fed' by the falling leaves of trees.
The strawberry growers of the early Victorian days used to take a delight in grubbing large coppices and then to use this land for strawberry growing. It was then, of course, very rich in humus and had a nice soil structure also.
Strawberries, of course, are propagated by means of runners and are not grafted or budded. Because strawberries love organic matter, they react wonderfully to organic fertilizers. One should start by making certain that the soil has a high organic content before it is planted out. Well-rotted farmyard manure or really good compost should be dug in or rotovated in at the rate of one large barrow-load to 10 sq. yards. In cases where dung and compost are not available, Italian Rye Grass may be sown as a green manure at the rate of about an ounce to 10 sq. yards, and when this is 6 inches high or so a good fish manure may be applied all over the top at a rate of 3 oz. to the sq. yard, just before it is dug in. The or the activated rye grass to the soil must be done a month or more ahead of planting so as to allow the land. to settle. Of course, it will help matters if the soil is dry enough for some rolling to be done.
By striking the plants in pots in this way there is a minimum of root disturbance when planting out and it is easier to ensure that the plants are ready in August.
It is most important to take great care in planting, for if the roots are bunched up in any way, they will never `unbtmch' themselves. A good hole should be made with a trowel so that the roots can be allowed to spread out and these must be well down. The crown of the plants must be at soil level and not below or above. The land of course must be absolutely clean and free from perennial weeds. It should be quite level and the top 3 or 4 inches must be free working.
If for reasons of expense the sedge peat idea has to be neglected, then all the hoeing that may be necessary in the early summer must be very shallow, and after the straw has been removed the tendency must be to hoe shallowly up to the plants for strawberries make new roots higher up their crowns each season. - 15266
The strawberry growers of the early Victorian days used to take a delight in grubbing large coppices and then to use this land for strawberry growing. It was then, of course, very rich in humus and had a nice soil structure also.
Strawberries, of course, are propagated by means of runners and are not grafted or budded. Because strawberries love organic matter, they react wonderfully to organic fertilizers. One should start by making certain that the soil has a high organic content before it is planted out. Well-rotted farmyard manure or really good compost should be dug in or rotovated in at the rate of one large barrow-load to 10 sq. yards. In cases where dung and compost are not available, Italian Rye Grass may be sown as a green manure at the rate of about an ounce to 10 sq. yards, and when this is 6 inches high or so a good fish manure may be applied all over the top at a rate of 3 oz. to the sq. yard, just before it is dug in. The or the activated rye grass to the soil must be done a month or more ahead of planting so as to allow the land. to settle. Of course, it will help matters if the soil is dry enough for some rolling to be done.
By striking the plants in pots in this way there is a minimum of root disturbance when planting out and it is easier to ensure that the plants are ready in August.
It is most important to take great care in planting, for if the roots are bunched up in any way, they will never `unbtmch' themselves. A good hole should be made with a trowel so that the roots can be allowed to spread out and these must be well down. The crown of the plants must be at soil level and not below or above. The land of course must be absolutely clean and free from perennial weeds. It should be quite level and the top 3 or 4 inches must be free working.
If for reasons of expense the sedge peat idea has to be neglected, then all the hoeing that may be necessary in the early summer must be very shallow, and after the straw has been removed the tendency must be to hoe shallowly up to the plants for strawberries make new roots higher up their crowns each season. - 15266
About the Author:
In an old cottage fruit tree garden, every bit of space would be used for growing.
