21-06-2005, 02:44 PM
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Why were the strawberries i tasted down the lotty last night so sour?
They are quite old plants, and it has been incredibly dry. And it is a
slightly neglected / weedy bit of ground. Do i need to replant them all
or can i just rescue the flavour with watering?
Well, there's nothing to be lost by trying the water. A certain
amount of sun will also sweeten them somewhat so you might tear back
the weeds too. But strawberries do deteriorate in health, vitality and
production after three years and most people get rid of them after that
age, roots and all. Preferably burn don't compost. Ideally, you should
plant some new plants each year so that you have a three-year
succession. In their first year they don't fruit much, second is better,
third is best, then they're history. By then, you have another
generation approaching their peak age for cropping.
In the circumsatnces I wouldn't bother with the usual method of
getting new plants, which is by rooting some runners from your own crop.
Just in case they are diseased or not a good strain.. Prepare a new
strawberrybed in a different area, well dug, compost or manure added,
and see if you can beg some healthy runners from another allotmenter who
has a tasty strong crop.
Janet.
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