|
|
|
Growing Strawberries
 |
Take a look around your garden.
Find a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
Strawberries grow best in deep, well drained, sandy loam soil rich in
organic matter. If at all possible, the site should be slightly sloped with
a watering source nearby. (Strawberries are NOT drought resistant).
Avoid planting strawberries in places where you've previously grown
tomatoes, peppers, potatoes or eggplant
Just like any other project you've undertaken,
preparation is key. Clear your future strawberry patch of all weeds and
grass. Work the soil to a depth of at least 18 inches (preferably 24
inches), and add organic matter (compost) to the soil.
Strawberry plants prefer a soil pH of 5.8 - 6.2. If you're unsure of the
acidity levels of your soil, send a sample to your local Cooperative
Extension Office.
Strawberries grow best in slightly raised rows that
should be set 3-4 feet apart. This allows ample room for the runners to
spread. Thirty plants will provide enough berries for a family of four.
Plants should be spaced 18-30 inches apart.
There are basically three types of strawberries: June bearing, everbearing
and day neutral.
When you get the bare root strawberry plants from the nursery, don't be
discouraged. The plants may not look so good, but they will soon start
rooting and putting on leaves. Trim the roots to about 4-inches and fan
the roots out and over a small mound of dirt. Space the plants at
10-inches apart and cover with soil, leaving only the crown of the plant
uncovered. And remember that growing strawberries will need to be
thoroughly watered.
You can plant your strawberries as soon as the ground
can be worked in the spring, usually in April or May. If the soil is too
wet, wait a few days until it dries out. Your first year's harvest won't be
much, but the really plentiful harvests will be in the years to come.
Strawberry plants will continue to produce fruit for 2-3 years. Plant new
plants each year to replenish the old.
In the off season, protect your plants by covering
them with a straw mulch. Remove the mulch come spring, and you'll be on your
way to another successful growing season.
If you
already have a garden, the soil is probably okay for growing strawberries.
If you are just starting a garden, you may want to add organic matter such
as ground bark or compost to the existing soil. A good rule of thumb is to
add at least 2-inches of organic matter over the garden plot and work it
into the top 6-inches of soil with a tiller, shovel or fork.
The trick with any
plant is to spread the roots enough. For a quick trick, dig your small hole
where you will plant, and at the bottom of the hole, make a little tennis
ball sized clump of dirt and just squeeze it enough so it will take shape
and stay together at the bottom of the hole. Place your strawberry plant on
top of this ball of dirt but very gently twist the plant as you do so. This
allows your roots to spread out like a fan. You really should to this with
every plant you put into the ground, making the roots horizontal, not
vertical strait into the ground.
The trick to getting great berries is not to just pick the berry itself.
Trying to pull the strawberry off the plant by holding onto the strawberry
will only bruise the berry. Instead, cut the berry away by the stem. Avoid
just pulling, as this might make a whole cluster of berries come up with it,
and those might not be ripe yet.
With only 55 calories per one cup serving, and
containing 140% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C for children, it
makes sense to add this fruit to your daily menus.
The fact that strawberries are available year round, offers you the perfect
opportunity to add great taste and nutrition to your everyday meals.
Research shows that 94% of Americans currently consume strawberries and it
is strongly suggested that eating them more often will add to a person's
overall long term health.
Strawberry-Banana Smoothies Recipe
1/2 banana
1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1 cup milk, low fat
1/4 cup cold water
Honey to taste
Peel banana and cut into small pieces. Rinse and cut strawberries into
cubes. Place all ingredients in a blender blend and serve add crushed to
make them even more tasty. |
|
Cedarsale.com 
