Latest Update 15 February 2016.
Strawberries
- The photo above shows 6 runners being propagated from 2 year old parent plants in Ecobed 2.
- They are pinned down so the roots maintain contact with the soil in small pots sitting in irrigation trays. The water in these trays lasts about 3 days before its replenished.
- These new strawberry plants will be used to replace a 3 year old group in the dedicated Ecobed in my garden.
- Variety: Hokowase
- Family Group: Rosaceae.
- Garden bed type: Ecobed.
- Recommended soil pH: 5.5 - 7.5.
- Group planting: 900mm x 300mm group.
- Good Companions: Borage, Marigold, Sage, Lettuce.
- Climate: Warm Temperate.
- Geographic Hemisphere: Southern.
- This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium.
- It is also a good source of Folate and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C and Manganese.
- More from nutrition data.self.com.
- Full sun.
- Minimise soil disturbances to maintain a natural soil structure.
- Prefers slightly acidic rich well drained organic soil.
- Maintain a thick layer of fresh straw mulch under the plants foliage and fruit to protect them from soil born diseases.
- Do not allow the soil to dry out.
- To prepare a bed for new strawberry runners, remove old mulch and other waste from your soil and add it to your compost heap.
- Apply a 20mm top dressing of aged sheep manure to help free up potassium in the soil, followed by a 60mm layer of home made compost. Cover with straw mulch.
- Leave for 4 weeks to build up microbial activity before planting.
- Strawberries favour slightly acid soil, so don't add lime.
- Avoid following solanaceae or turf as they can be vectors for diseases which effect strawberries.
- To prepare a bed containing older plants, clear old mulch and debris, remove all runners and dead foliage and apply 20mm of aged sheep manure around the plants followed by 60mm of home made compost. Cover with straw mulch.
- I propagate my Strawberries from runners taken from existing plants. These runners grow from the crowns of established plants during summer. Each node of the runner sends out roots, and starts growing leaf. All surplus runners should be removed from their parent plant to concentrate the plants energy on growing fruit.
- Select the first one of these nodes and plant it in a pot containing moist compost (sat in an irrigation tray). Cut off the unwanted nodes.
- The selected runners (still attached to their parents) should be pressed into the compost until the small root buds are covered and pinned down using small metal pegs.
- After a few months (in Autumn) the runners will be mature enough to be separated from their parents and dug up to be replanted.
- Plant a group of 6 new Strawberry runners in the designated Patio Ecobed.
- The Patio Ecobed grows 18 Strawberry plants in 3 groups planted over 3 years.
- Each year the oldest group of plants is replaced by new runners.
- Before the new runners are planted, the soil in that section of the bed is exchanged with soil from an Ecobed which has just finished growing brassicas.
- Each spring the Strawberry bed's soil is prepared for the new year as detailed in "Feed the Soil".
- Every month the Strawberries are sprayed with aerated compost tea at the same time as all the other edible plants to promote their health and vigour.
- Strawberries are self pollinating, but still need help from the wind or from bees and other insects. To ensure your Strawberries are pollinated you can hand pollinate them as demonstrated in this video.
- Harvest the Strawberries from October onwards.
- Harvest when ripe, and use immediately.
- Slugs and snails.
- Strawberries should be protected against slugs and snails using self adhesive copper tape bonded around the external walls of your Patio Ecobed.
- If these molluscs get into your bed as eggs laid in your compost, kill them with organically approved iron based snail pellets as soon as you discover them.
- You should only need to use a small number of pellets.
- Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars.
- If your crop is attacked by butterflies spray it thoroughly with Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel in Australia) This natural soil dwelling bacterium once ingested by the caterpillars produces toxins which paralyse the caterpillar's digestive system causing it to stop feeding. It dies within a few days.
- Greenhouse whitefly.
- Aerated compost tea strengthens the plants foliage against whitefly damage.
- Control any infestations by spray your crop thoroughly with organic horticultural oil (Eco-oil in Australia).
- Spray again in a few days to ensure second generation whitefly do not survive.
- Aphids (greenfly).
- Use the same method as described above (for whitefly).
- Strawberry root knot nematodes.
- If your strawberries are infested with root knot nematodes, remove the plants and all debris on the soil's surface and dispose of it in plastic bags in your garbage.
- Either replace the soil in your Patio Ecobed or use a different Patio Ecobed if available. Replant with new certified Strawberry runners.
- Powdery mildew.
- A monthly foliar spray of aerated compost tea is a useful deterrent against powdery mildew.
- If an infestation occurs, spray with an organic horticultural oil such as Eco-oil.
- General:
- Regular applications of aerated compost tea boost the natural defences of plants by colonising the leaf surfaces with beneficial microbes. They defend the plant against airborne pests and diseases.
- Similarly, proper soil preparation including regular applications of home made compost boosts the community of beneficial microbes, which defend the plants roots against plant pathogens.
- Wire net tunnels stop birds digging up worms in your Patio Ecobed.
