Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi
I am about too plant up a deep bed with stawberries and was going to cover the bed with black polythene then cut holes to plant through, has anyone any other ideas to cut out weeding at a later date.
I was also going to ridge the rows and I thought I might puncture the polythene between the rows to let some water/feed to the roots at a later date??.
Welcome your suggestions/comments.
Cheers John

Hi John, the only trouble with polythene is that you can't get t feed the plants at all. If you could stretche the extra few quid & get the membrane that woud be better as it will allow the water through and won't need holes punching in it. Then next year you can give them a liquid feed of whatever takes your fancy (seaweed etc).

I would only use black plastic to cover weeds to try and kill them off. Also, if it's not uv treated it will break down after a year or so.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Hi Boucieblack. Welcome aboard. One problem with covering the entire ground is that the strawberry runners will not be able to root in the ground. You would need to root them in small pots whilst still attached to the main plant. These pots would then need pinning down and that would make holes in the polythene or membrane. Also I have a feeling that slugs would live under the cover.

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Another problem with polythene is the slugs underneath. However, to get feed in, you can drive in 1" tubes along the length and feed directly to the roots. It can be unsightly too and then you have problem with runners rooting.

Some info:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basic...berries2.shtml

http://www.organicgarden.org.uk/growing/tour.htm

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

Thanks all,think I will get the membrane.
What do you suggest for planting ,ie on the flat or have the plants up on the ridges.
Cheers John

I advise that you get them off the ground altogether with the slugs but traditionally they are planted on ridges to help drainage and deter slugs (as if they can't climb!)

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

We are in the process (if it stops raining!!!) of moving our strawberry patch to a couple of new raised beds. We had used black plastic originally, but intend to get membrane this time. Just waiting for the nematodes to arrive this weekend and will set to. We had planted on ridges but they slowly flattened as they got leant on etc! Don't think will bother this time. We tried straw one year under the fruit but found it blown all over the place.

Like the good "canny Scot" that I am, (some may say tight) I have managed to aquire enough membrane to cover the area for my strawbs and probably half the other allotments also !!.
Thanks for all your comments/suggestions tho.
Cheers John

Being the tight git I am, do you want my address for the excess BB

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Its a pity you are so far away Nick as I will have excess,its quite bulky stuff so I assume postage would be quite expensive.
Could have done a deal for a few tubers me thinks.

Hi,

I too have raised beds with strawberries, I've always used the membrane and found it's worked really well. I do however also cover them with insect netting which reduces but doesn't eradicate the slug problem (as there are generally dormant eggs in the soil). I will also be covering them with straw this year to keeping in even more moisture as I'm really worried about the pending water shortage. Hoping for a bumper crop this year!!!

Emma - how do you stop the straw from blowing away?

I always used straw under and around strawberries. It prevented slugs and weeds and kept strawberries clean. It never blew away.

I've alays found the biggest trouble with straw is the corn that grows!!! I gess it's the bits that get trapped in the bales.

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I can't get straw. So have decided to use bark chips. Do you think this will be ok. I tried it on a bed over the last few weeks, but most of the time it has been under the snow, but hasn't seen to have blown away yet. Our dog seems to like it though - and the blackbirds!

I grow my strawberry's in 4 foot barrels and have not really had a problem with weeds, especially if it is the strawberry's going into the second year and they are established as they cover the top of the barrel allowing no weeds in apart from chickweed which will occasionally float in. Jennie it is possible to use bark and to good use the same with gravel or in general small wood chippings as the slugs find it difficult to go over.