James Wong's growing strawberries method

[Miss Mousetrousers]

We got James Wong's book and found it fascinating as how best to grow various things. My rather neglected potted strawbs from last year have been planted in troughs in John Innes and placed on a home-made bench with watering trays underneath. My OH then watered them with a diluted molasses solution and sprayed them with diluted aspirin. They seem fine so far but don't expect an amazing crop this year because they need to bulk up for next year. He also recommends the planters should be red, so will get some red plastic sheet for next year and put it round the troughs. Anyone tried this or any other of his ideas for fruit?

[Martin H]

I'm afraid that my reaction to any James Wong idea is usually, "that's an interesting idea!". Then I ignore it and do it a different way.

Did he give a reason for the red planters? I'd have thought you want warmth, so you'd want to absorb longer wavelengths. So black would be good, otherwise green... but surely any effect would be marginal.

[vixylix]

I agree with Martin... I read his book, and enjoyed it, but haven't done anything in it!

Wasnt it red plastic sheeting as a mulch rather than red planters? Something to do with they see the red as competition and produce bigger / better fruit? It doesnt do any harm to try!

[Martin H]

Something to do with they see the red as competition and produce bigger / better fruit? It doesnt do any harm to try!

Sounds like b****cks to me. It doesn't do any harm to the profits of companies that make red plastic sheeting though! Personally I'm sceptical enough that I'm not going to try it unless someone has done a proper test using colourblind gardeners and thus demonstrated its efficacy.

Actually I'm doubly sceptical: of Mr Wong and of his ideas.

But do let us know how it goes!

[bario1]

Maybe the red mulch is to camouflage the ripe strawberries so birds and slugs can't see them?

[veggiechicken]

By coincidence, I saw a post on FB today with this photo


The OP said that the painted pebbles were laid down amongst the plants before the strawberries appeared. The birds were attracted to the "strawbs", pecked them and decided they were inedible so went elsewhere for food.
Apparently they'd being doing it for 3 years and no longer have a bird problem.

[mothhawk]

I'm sure I've read somewhere about the benefits of red plastic as a mulch. I'll go and have a search. Back in a bit....

[Nicos]

Red mulch.....

Is There A Difference In Red Mulch? — Plasticulture — Penn State Extension

[mothhawk]

Here it is...
I'm quoting from Edward C. Smith, a US gardener....

"Studies have shown that tomatoes produce earlier and set more fruit when mulched with red plastic, which both warms the soil and reflects certain wavelengths of sunlight. Red plastic does not suppress weeds as well as black plastic or IRT (infra-red transmitting) plastic."

Plants are sensitive to the colour of light they receive, some colours making them grow top growth, some promoting root growth.

have a look here Is There A Difference In Red Mulch? — Plasticulture — Penn State Extension

And apparently not all red plastics are equal....

Snap, Nicos

[Nicos]

Ha!......good timing MH!....I wondered if you'd got lost in there!

[Martin H]

Interesting study.

I knew that only certain wavelengths of light are used in photosynthesis (which is why plants are green). This seems to be an extension of the same principle: plants can use the red light reflected by the plastic to grow stronger and crop better. The other coloured plastics absorb red light and so don't add to plant growth.

Tantalisingly the study didn't compare the red mulch with light-coloured mulches that would reflect back all of the colours including red.

Thanks Researchers