Our strawberries are ripening a handful at a time. Not enough for a pie yet, mostly because the sweet, red berries don't last long enough to make it out of the garden. We planted our strawberry patch in a three by ten raised bed about five years ago. I've read that strawberries only last a couple of years, but these little jewels are still going strong. If you can keep strawberries alive and well through the hot summer months, you'll have a nice new crop of the beautiful white flowers that turn into strawberries in the late fall. Fall is also a good time to plant strawberries here in the Phoenix area. During the summer, we keep our beds shaded with umbrellas to keep them out of the direct sun and use straw and coarsely decayed compost spread beneath the strawberry plants to keep the soil cool. In the spring and again in the fall we work bone meal and cottonseed meal into a mixture of good quality potting soil and add to the strawberry bed. It's important to give strawberries a good, deep watering to about 12 inches and let the surface of the soil dry out between watering. The root of the plant will grow deep and strong this way, and it'll help keep the snails and pill bugs under control (they love moisture and strawberries). If you'd like something sweet to go along with your garden veggies... make some room for strawberries. 
Papaw, grandson and strawberries.![]()
We linked up with our friends at .The Prairie Homestead.
11 comments:
Mmmm.... your strawberries look so good! Good information, too. Looks like you'll have plenty!
You have a great strawberry patch. That's one project I would like to get to before the end o the summer. I appreciated your good information.
Your strawberries look amazing! Ours went pfft. I transplanted most of them to a pot in our porch, but I think it was too late. There were two plants I left in the bed that were under some large marigold plants. They still looked green and perky, no fruit, but at least their leaves didn't wither and die! I'm hoping those last out this hot season.
I admire your ability to get strawberries to fruit in the heat. Here in Florida, I can only coax fruit out of them for a few weeks in early spring while it's still cool.
Well, cool by our standards.
Wow it has been a while sicne I visited your garden! I enjoyed every post for this month and last.
Our cucumbers are growing well - we ate two, so are our tomatoes , peppers and eggplants. Also garlic and swiss chard.
Your strawberry garden is beautiful! I tried two plants in pots this year, but we didn't get very many berries (the birds or squirrels ate them, then the heat). I made a homemade tulle tent to keep the birds out, but not sure if it will suffice. How do you keep the birds or squirrels away from your pretty garden?
Blessings,
Linsey
So pretty! I love the two cute boys as well ;)
Yummy! Ours have come and gone back in May....Yours look great!
I am SO inspired....to plant MORE strawberries! They are doing great here at Xericopia. Thanks Jill (and Hal) for all your encouragement and inspiring efforts in the garden. I'll be sharing from our first fall batch of strawberries - count on it!
WOW! Those strawberries look stunning! YUM YUM!
LOVE your bloggy :)
xoxo
sam
love this post Jill....love the photography.....miss u..
xoxo
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