My strawberry bed didn't fare very well over winter and I lost many of the plants. I'd created a new bed last year, but the plants never really took off, I suppose because of all the wet weather we had. I decided to cut my losses and start from scratch again this year. I'd seen some nice looking plants at Poppleton Garden Centre, but when I came across some plants in Wilkos which were very reasonable, I decided to go with those. I've gone for three varieties, Honeoye, an early season variety which I've grown before and which I've been happy with, Cambridge Favourite, a mid season variety and Symphony, a late variety. They were £1 each or two for £1.50. I've started off with twenty plants, but I'll increase my stock from runners later on in the season. I'm not expecting much of a harvest this year, but if I can get them established, they should do well next year. There's already a few flowers on them, as you can see.
I sowed my sweet peas - New Horizons Mix at the beginning of March and they've made nice sturdy plants. I was going to grow them at the allotment, but a climbing rose which I was bought for Mother's Day and which I planted in the garden hasn't grown, so it's been pulled out and the sweet peas have gone in there. The rose will be taken back to where it was bought from. I was bought a second rose for Mother's Day, and that looks to be growing ok, it's got some leaves, so I suppose that's a good sign that it's taken.
The seeds which I sowed last weekend have started to germinate. The more tender ones are on a windowsill indoors, whereas the more hardy things are out in the greenhouse fending for themselves. I haven't managed to get any more jobs ticked off my list yet, so I'm hoping to get a few things done over the weekend. Fingers crossed that the weather stays fine.
.jpg)
Oh I do love a strawberry. Those plants look really healthy and are a really reasonable price.
ReplyDeleteI started a new strawberry bed from runners last autumn and it's growing quite well. I put strawberries everywhere, in pots and baskets, then when I'm pottering around I can just pick and eat.xxxx
i love strawberries too, but it's always a race to see who eats them first in this house, me or my daughter, she guzzles them. I've got some plants in pots in the garden, always a good idea for a delicious snack whilst pottering.
DeleteThe strawberry plants look good. I'm not that fussed about them.
ReplyDeleteShame about the rose, I hope that the replacement does better.
Enjoy the weekend. Flighty xx
Strawberries are one of my favourite fruit so I'd hate to be without them. I don't think they'll do too well this year whilst they're still getting established so I may have to go to a pick your own farm. It is a shame about the rose, especially as it was a gift.
DeleteHope your strawbs do well this year. There are few things nicer than a home-grown strawberry, still warm from the sun. (Possibly a home-grown tomato?)
ReplyDeleteI agree. I should get them cropping over a decent period of time having the three different varieties, I find strawberry season far too short.
DeleteYum strawberries straight from the plant, one of the pleasures of a wonder round the garden. I have the same issue with my youngest son, though there was no battle last year due to the lack of fruit.
ReplyDeleteLast year wasn't a very good year all round, I do hope we have a better year this year. Home grown strawberries taste so different to those you buy in the shops so they're a must in my garden.
DeleteI have grown Cambridge favourite for more years than I care to remember. With all new plants it is wise to cut the flowers off the first year to let the plant establish. I think it really depends on the size, after all you can buy 60 day plants now.
ReplyDeleteI think Cambridge Favourite are a favourite variety of many people, it's such a well known one. I've never cut off the flowers, though perhaps I should have last year, my plants may have done better then.
DeleteEven though I grow strawberries (sooo many plants!) I'm not that fussed about them as I prefer raspberries and blueberries. I grow them because the kids here love to eat them! I might have to change my mind though as my Rambling Cascade plants from Victoriana look really strong and I'm hoping that the fruit will be sweet and held high above the plant (and therefore more likely to be away from slugs and snails - yeuch!)
ReplyDeleteI'm not very keen on raspberries, but I do like blueberries. I think most kids like strawberries though, so I think you're on to a winner growing them. I haven't had alot of damage from slugs, though their bellies are probably full from all my other crops.
DeleteIsn't it lovely when seeds start popping their heads up. Those strawberries look great and a bargain to boot, they were £2.99 each in our local garden centre xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's always exciting to see seeds germinating, I'm just as excited now as when I first started gardening. I've seen plenty of expensive strawberry plants around too, so I thought these were a bargain.
DeleteOur strawberry plants are looking very healthy but I can't see any flowers on them yet.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
xx
I think these are only flowering because they were indoors before I bought them, it will have brought them on a bit I should imagine. Let's hope it's a good strawberry year.
DeleteYour strawberries look as if they are romping away Jo. I'm growing new strawberry plants too this year. I saved some runners but have also bought three varieties including 'Cambridge Favourite'. I'm originally from that part of the world and as a child used to help pick the strawberry crop on my uncle's farm.
ReplyDeleteThey've certainly grown since I bought them. I've got some plants in the garden which came from runners, so I should get a few strawberries this year even if these new plants don't do much. What lovely memories from your childhood.
DeleteThat's a shame about the rose - I hope you get a good replecement
ReplyDeleteI was really disappointed, more about the fact that it was a present, but I'm sure I'll get a replacement.
DeleteWe have had two strawberry plants in above ground containers for 5 years now ...they must be incredibly hardy as they survie hard winters and I do nothing special for them. They we're gifts in a hanging basket when I first got them and I have no idea of the variety . Sweet small berries are yeilded all Summer !
ReplyDeleteThey sound great, whatever variety they are. Perhaps you could pot up some runners from the plants and increase your stock.
DeleteI was interested to hear about the rose that you took back. Did you get a replacement? I've never thought of taking plants back as I've always thought it must be me going something wrong. (However, you had the other one to compare, which is doing well). My husband has transferred a rose that I chose for an anniversary a couple of years ago in the ground. It was in a pot, so I hope it thrives in its new position.
ReplyDeleteI haven't taken the rose back yet, but it came with a guarantee so there shouldn't be any problem in getting a refund or replacement. I'm sure you rose will like it's new position, I think roses prefer the ground rather than a container.
DeleteNothing nicer than a bowl of strawberries from your own garden! I planted new ones last year and looked like there was going to be a good harvest but they disappeared overnight. Flipping voles or mice had taken them and hidden them under the shed :(
ReplyDeleteHow disappointing. It seems that if one pest doesn't get our crops, another one does. I hope the new plants do well, like you say, there's nothing nicer than home grown strawberries.
DeleteHope your new strawberries give you plenty of fruit some of mine didn't fare too well over winter either - luckily I had planted up plenty of runners.
ReplyDeleteI've got some runners potted up in the garden, but I'm going to keep those in containers. I'm hoping I might get a few strawberries from those even if the new ones are still settling in this year.
DeleteFreshly picked strawberries are like little gems aren't they. I had a bit of a disaster with mine over winter due to vine weevils, but luckily most have soldiered on and are now flowering. I hope your new plants do well this year, they look really healthy.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that your strawberry plants survived, vine weevils can do so much damage. I've bought bare root plants in the past, which take a while to settle in, but these plants, which were already potted up, have just romped away.
DeleteI've been meaning to replace some of my strawberry plants but haven't got round to it. It's probably a bit late now so I might just see how mine fair. Need to pop up to the plot and check them over at some point. It's a hectic time of year, trying to get everything done. Just as my list seems to shorten loads of other jobs come along to be added to it. ;)
ReplyDeleteI suppose it depends what the plants are like you're going to replace them with. If they're already potted up, they'll have put on some growth by now, so it may not be too late. There's always jobs to add to the bottom of the list at this time of year. No matter how much you do, there's always more that needs doing.
DeleteThat was a real bargain on the strawberry plants Jo. Here's hoping they give you lots of wonderful fruit. I still have a list as long as my arm to tick off...maybe this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI thought they were a good bargain, but I've since seen some in Tescos which are even cheaper, the plants aren't quite so big though. I don't think the list gets any smaller at this time of year.
Delete