If we always took care of our plants with the thought their success might win us an iPad, I wonder what our gardens would look like! Make sure to leave a comment (VOTE) if you find this post helpful or inspiring or you think I could really do some great garden blogging with a shiny new iPad!
You can read all about the Corona Strawberry Fields Project on my original blog post. But just to remind you, the folks at Corona Tools challenged garden bloggers from Garden2Blog with this...
The goal of Corona’s Strawberry Field project is to demonstrate to everyone that even in the smallest of spaces, we can all make a difference by growing fresh, nutritious and organic food.
Starting with three bare roots plants we all came up with our own growing styles and solutions. The most surprising thing? It was so much FUN!
Now that we're getting close to the finish line, I thought I'd recap what I did and how anyone could apply these ideas for growing delicious strawberries in their own garden. But don't stop at strawberries, these tips are great for growing other container garden goodies.
- For planting I recycled a wooden box measuring just 11' x 13", originally used for shipping Dow's Vintage Port. A rustic container like this blends well with any garden style. Re-purposing containers requires no extra expense or waste. See what you can convert into a growing vessel.
- With a depth of 91/2" there's plenty of room for good root development. It also has good drainage, which is important, in addition make sure to plant with the crown at soil level to avoid rotting. The three bare root plants were spaced about 4 inches apart.
- For the planting mix I combined potting soil and compost, enriched with Jobe's Organic Fertilizer.
- Periodic fertilizing was done with Moo-Poo Manure Tea and naturally formulated Bonnie's Vegetable Food.
- Any supplemental watering was done with rain water (saved in clean trash cans) from roof runoff.
- The container was set on a patio table (you could use any high surface) for good air circulation and also to deter chipmunks and other pests.
- The location was chosen for its beneficial microclimate; morning and afternoon sun while protected from wind, and lots of warmth radiating from the blue slate patio pavers.
- Japanese beetles were hand-picked and disposed of every other day.
- Growing them by the front door meant that I could appreciate their charm while making it convenient for picking.
The strawberry planting was dealt the usual setbacks and challenges that most gardeners face: Wet spring, cold weather, extreme heat and humidity, pests, and vacation neglect. However...
Drum roll please:
As of August 10.... Total ripe berries: 34 Unripe berries: 41 Runners: 18 with 3 baby plants on each for future plantings. And lots of flowers still developing.
You might not have the makings of strawberry jam with just three plants but you will have tasty, healthy berries to snack on in the garden, mine rarely make it inside. Those that did found their way onto cereal or ice cream. Bon apetit from The Garden Buzz!!!