Archive for 'Organic Gardening'
Alpine Strawberries
Posted on March 2, 2009, by admin, under Organic Gardening.
There are many varieties of strawberries. Below are a few choice varieties of compost growing of strawberries that gardeners usually plant.
They can be transplanted in rows roughly 18 inches apart, allowing a one foot space between the plants. The fruits are tiny and reproduction can be achieved by deviding the clumps after fruiting has ended in the late fall. About fifty plants are needed for a normal family. This type of strawberry will thrive on a partially shaded border rich in compost or sedge peat. You can raise plants from seed and buy them from your local nursery in early September. Remove the first few blooms for prolific cropping that will last through to October, when the regular varieties are done.
It pays to mulch the ground mid July with sedge peat so as to keep the berries from touching the ground. There seems to be no clearcut end to a truss of flowers which may continue to bloom until it is about 20 inches long. The planting should be done in rows 2 feet apart, allowing 18 inches between the plants. Again, remove the first few flowers for prolific cropping that will last from August to October, when the ordinary varieties are over.
Hampshire Maid if deblossomed in May or June will bear fruits from July through November. The plant is dense, the trusses appear all round and the fruit can be located at the edge of the foliage. The berries are rounded-conical, sturdy and dark red. These heavy croppers are excellent for making jam.
Charles Sinnen is a hard variety to get your hands on due to the fact that it does not bear any runners and must be reproduced in very late fall by dividing the crowns. I’ve included it here because it is admired to be one of the most delicious berries. These come from the United States and are only offered by one or two British nurserymen. It is easy to grow and produce dark red juicy berries with dark green foliage. It is an excellent grower and a prolific cropper which will form runners.
Royal Sovereign can be compared to the Cox’s Orange of apples. Mouthwatering when well grown. It’s also good for heavier soil. The fruits are flush, very big and of premium quality. Rather leafy for growing under ganwicks or cloches. An excellent variety for the small garden. Cambridge Rival is a marvelous variety for the damp parts of Great Britain and during rainy seasons. It produces low trusses, with added foliage that are on long stems clear of the fruit. It is also a good variety to grow in sandy areas which may be low in potash. The flavour of the berries can be enhanced under ganwicks or frames. It is very rebellious againts Red Core Root Rot. Fruits are large, conical, firm and crimson. Season early as they do not travel well.
No Comments
