Your comments and tips

29 Jul 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi Mike, and all, Thanks for the drum on strawberries. All being well, I'll plant todaļy. Appreciated :)

Reply or Post a new comment

30 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - temperate climate)

Jane, if you are in sub tropical then you may be too late to produce a crop this year. Best time to plant sub tropical is early mid April. We are picking strawbs now. If you are going to plant now - plant a few and use the runners produced over summer/autumn for new plants next April. A few plants will produce a lot of new runners.

Reply or Post a new comment

18 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Mike L - Just thinking about what your wrote. A friend gave me four strawberry plants in a punnet that she bought somewhere in town so I planted them - not knowing anything about strawberry growing or when/not to plant them etc. They look OK so far but (some other plants have lower leaves that are going yellow, no idea why, so I am guessing that)anything could happen? When you say to use the runners produced over summer/autumn for new plants next April do you mean that they will produce runners (that won't fruit) and cut them out of or pull them out of the ground and save them somehow?Or leave them in the ground to spread as they will? I ask because I also read in the strawberry article to cut the runners away and keep the mother plant (in the ground)? Is planting season in Subtropical Qld from April - Aug/Oct? If so what does one do between Aug/Oct -April the following year..? Thanks. Jane.

Reply or Post a new comment

05 Jul 18, Dietmar Frey (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)

How can we help a young boy start his own garden from scratch, where there is not a lot of water.

Reply or Post a new comment

10 Sep 18, Rowan (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)

U should make a raised bed.Have Rain gauges collecting water.

Reply or Post a new comment

09 May 18, Ann (Australia - temperate climate)

Thanks Mike. Your suggestions are helpful and make good sense!

Reply or Post a new comment

11 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Years ago I just planted things and hoped for the best - I grew pretty good crops of vegies though - some failures to. The last 18 mths I have researched and read a lot on the internet. I'm doing a lot of fine tuning of growing things now. I have learnt heaps about pollinating zucchini, cues, pumpkin etc. When it is better to grow capsicums and beans. Make and apply compost and mulch. Shade young seed/plants while they establish. it is a never ending game to improve.

Reply or Post a new comment

02 May 18, Carmel (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Wanting to move strawberry plants (have a couple of old wheel barrows I want to use) Don't know age of existing plants. Should I plant just the runners or use older plants as well? New home to be built on garden site!!! Won't be living close by so will these plants be ok if watered twice a week over the next six months???

Reply or Post a new comment

04 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

As a guide plants that have had 2 crops of fruit should be replaced with new runners. Plant new runners. Once planted mulch around the plants. Put a watering drip system under the mulch if possible. If possible put them where they will receive some shade each day - in the morning or late arvo. Strawberries have a shallow root system so give them a good watering 2-3 times a week at least - more if possible. Try not to wet the leaves and fruit when they starting produce fruit.

Reply or Post a new comment

07 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

If possible take the wheel barrows with you - set them up where you are going to live.

Reply or Post a new comment