Making compost for your fruit trees

Bkaus · Joined: 31 Jul 2012 Posts: 136 Location: North Phoenix

I planted them inside in a seed tray in the fall and then moved them outside in the spring but at the AZRFG the guy giving the talk on strawberries said to plant transplants in January. They seem to like lots of shade at lest 50% shade. Mine are growing under a grape vine. Years ago I had them under a apricot tree.

Dauntless · Joined: 20 Nov 2010 Posts: 174 Location: Mesa, AZ

Thanks for the tips. Otherwise, I would have planted transplants as soon as they were big enough instead of in January. I tend to err towards getting things that aren't too frost sensitive in earlier to give them a chance to get well established before the heat of Summer.

Mine are under 60% shade cloth and next to a wall that gives them full shade in the afternoon. And, luckily they are in my garden enclosure so birds are not a problem. There were some of them eaten though and I suspect grasshoppers but am not sure.

Bkaus · Joined: 31 Jul 2012 Posts: 136 Location: North Phoenix

At the AZRFG strawberry meeting the instructor ask why they are called strawberries? Because the ground bugs would eat them and they put straw under them to keep the berries off the ground.

Dauntless · Joined: 20 Nov 2010 Posts: 174 Location: Mesa, AZ

My grandmother had a one acre strawberry patch in Northern Illinois. I used to pick strawberries for her. As you say, she had straw under all of her plants. It used to be a rush when a snake would pop out as I was picking berries.
I put bark under mine and it seems to have helped the bugs from eating the lower berries but the ones that are being eaten now are more on top.
I was hesitant to use straw as it is kind of dirty as far as weed seeds go. It didn't seem to be a problem in Illinois but I am afraid of getting a Bermuda grass infestation so steered away from it. Maybe my concerns are unfounded.