Starwberry Tubers

[Shortie]

Hi

I planted some strawberry tubers (if that's what they're called) last month and have comered them with straw and netting...

Anyone know when I should expect them to start showing signs of life?

Cheers

[andrewo]

They will start to show signs of life around now, leaves will slowly start from the crown.

[Shortie]

Cheers Andrewo

I have them covered with straw at the mo as I had to plant them when it was frosty. Should I uncover them do you think, or is it best to leave the straw there for them to grow through?

[nick the grief]

You can leave it for now Shortie as the forecast is for cold at night. once it warms up a bit more you can uncover them.

[Shortie]

Cheers Andrewo and ntg, I'll rest in more peace

[SueA]

Hi Shortie,
I planted strawberry runners out in baskets & pots without protection a week or so ago & some under a polythene cloche & they all seem to be growing O.K. at the moment. Like Nick says though I'd leave yours covered a bit longer as frost is forecast but I'd just move it off the tops of the crowns & leave it around them as straw helps keep the slugs off them a bit & you can push it under the fruits when they develop to keep them off the soil.

[andrewo]

My strawberries are in black plastic drums, warms up the soil faster, keeps them off the ground and minimises frost damage without the need to cover. I would look at investing or building yourself a fleece tunnel/cloche for future years. Spring is late this year.

Or Spring is on holiday or strike, one of the two, you know things are sliding when the seasons become a union.

[Shortie]

It is late this year isn't it??

I remember last year, mid april we went away for two weeks and I forgot to ask anyone to water my pots and they all died as we had a mini heat wave

[nick the grief]

I seem to remember that they said that this year has been about 10c colder than the the same period last year as an average, but we've had a mild winter (apart from Rat) very weird.

[Shortie]

Maybe this is the start of the changing seasons they've been warning us about...?

Mind you, everyone says about how global warming is due to the fact that we abuse the world, and I'm not saying for one minute that we shouldn't be taking more care than we do, but this has happened at least once before in natural history and I believe we're just witnessing the start of the cycle reverting again...

[Jaxom]

During the reign of James I of England and James VI of Scotland the Thames froze over and they held a fair on it.

[nick the grief]

Struthe are you that old Jax

[Jaxom]

Some days I do feel that old today after an afternoon spent in the garden I knew all about it.
Jax

[Shortie]

Jax, you're as old as you feel inside not out... My Dad recons he never grew older that 16.

I'm still recovering from a motorway accident I was in back in December and my back and neck really hurt after just one hours digging now (but I remember digging my pond out for hours in the blazing sun last summer) but I figure until my back get's strong enough again and my problems sorted, I might as well enjoy what I can manage... just means I get more help now for the OH, more pampering after and tonnes of cups of hot tea!

[andrewo]

We are also heading for a drought, worse than 1976 and the worst in 100 years. What p****es me off is that water companies lose a 1/3 water between holding and household distribution, of which gardeners use 1/12 of that 1/3 during the summer months. I agree that water hoses are inefficient but shouldn't they get their house in order first? I've also noticed that they haven't banned businesses from using high-powered hoses for washing cars and trucks, which can use up to 12 gallons for one small car.