STRAWBERRIES
Gooey red jam. Delicious creamy cheesecake. Chocolate dipped or sliced over ice cream. Yummy…Strawberries are the ultimate summer snack!
Organic strawberries are also healthier. Easy to grow and ripe for picking, here is how to harvest your very own strawberry crop.
Strawberries need at least eight hours of full sun each day. Be sure to follow the seed packaging for directions about spacing. Many varieties of strawberries produce offspring, so it is best to space them 18 inches apart. Be sure to set the plants so that their roots are well covered, but the crown is exposed to light and fresh air. Water them well.
Strawberries
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Trowel
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Measuring device
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Mixing container
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1 part Aged Bark Fines
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1 part coco coir
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1 part Pure Rice Hulls
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1 part Premium Organic Compost
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1/4 part Organic Chicken Manure Pellets
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Mix the aged bark fines, coco coir, and rice hulls together in a large container.
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Add in the compost and mix together thoroughly.
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You can carefully add the chicken manure pellets after the plants making sure not to have pellets touch the plants or roots.
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Dig a hole in the soil that's large enough to accommodate the roots of the strawberry seedling. Make sure the hole is deep enough so that the crown of the seedling (where the stem meets the roots) is at the soil level.
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Carefully remove the strawberry seedling from its container, not damaging the roots. If the roots are tightly packed, gently loosen them with your fingers.
(& spacing)
To get the most out of the berry plants, be sure to let no more than three (or if a smaller variety, four) plants root per square foot of soil.
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Place the strawberry seedling in the hole, ensuring the roots are spread out and facing downwards.
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Backfill the hole with soil keeping the crown above the soil level, and gently press down around the plant to remove any air pockets.
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Dig a hole in the soil that's large enough to accommodate the roots of the strawberry seedling. Make sure the hole is deep enough so that the crown of the seedling (where the stem meets the roots) is at soil level.
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Carefully remove the strawberry seedling from its container, taking care not to damage the roots. If the roots are tightly packed, gently loosen them with your fingers.
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Place the strawberry seedling in the hole, making sure the roots are spread out and facing downwards. Backfill the hole with soil and gently press down around the plant to remove any air pockets.
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Mulch around the plants with straw or other organic material to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Unlike normal soil, coconut coir is sterile. The beneficial bacteria lining found in coconut coir increases the overall productivity. Planting strawberries in coconut coir require less frequent watering and eliminate the problem of water logging (due to its excellent drainage capacity).
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Water the newly planted strawberry seedling thoroughly, making sure the soil is evenly moist.
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Continue to water the strawberry seedlings regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.