I live in Texas, so my climate is somewhat different than BC. However, I have started 4 strawberry plants in my house, and have a raspberry and two types of blueberry plants which I will transplant in a few weeks as it warms up (it has been in the 70s here last week down to mid-50s). I know that azalea food will help the blueberries and raspberries; do strawberries need a bit of acidity as well, or should I plant them a bit away from the other plants? Thanks for any suggestions you might make. Dr.G
Hi Dr. G - Hope this helps. Strawberries like it at about 6 -6.5 pH, If you go to your local garden centre they should be able to help you with what you need. A liitle tip on your blueberries -add some peat moss to the soil(helps to lower the pH) when you plant them blueberries do best at pH of 6 or lower- To keep the pH low you can use Miracid. I would plant the berries in separate locations. Raspberries throw out a lot of canes and you don't want them invading your strawberry bed or mixing in with the blueberries. A good planting of raspberries will last you 8-10 years. The blueberries should last you a good 15-20 years. A strawberry planting is good for about 2-3 years and then the production declines. Cheers and good luck. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub360/8strnote.htm
Thank you, Prariegrapes. I will have to stop by the gardening center and get some peat moss. In all honesty, I am not a gardener in any real sense. I have roses which do well, but as an opera singer by trade, I do not spend hours with the plants. Last year I followed the directions and planted them in "full sun". However, Full Sun and Desert Sun are apparently not the same as they didn't do well at all despite being serviced by our sprinkler system. I was going to plant them all in a single 2ft. x 10ft. bin on the north side of the house, where they would get morning light, but be shaded during the 100+ degree heat of the full sun which cooked them last year during June-August. However, if you think they would be better served in their own 2x2 boxes I will consider it. I am sure you are correct -- it is just more work. Dr.G
A lighter type of shade (rather than hard shade from a solid structure,) might be preferable, as from a shade cloth or a tree that is not too dense in foliage (for example, beech is too dense; while honey-locust is an example of less dense.) Full morning sun would be beneficial. Although, your plan might work fine too; I have 2 hop vines on the north side of a barn that do well with sun only in morning and early evening. Blueberries grow well in pH ranging 4.0-5.5, and coffee grounds are an excellent addition to mulch, for they provide acidity as well as nutrients like nitrogen.