Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Strawberries need at least four hours of sun and prefer well-drained soil that has lots of organic
matter or compost mixed in. Mulch will help keep strawberries from being crowded out by weeds,
and preserve moisture in drought-prone areas where strawberries won't thrive.
Some strawberry types produce a lot of berries all at once, while others produce throughout the
year. The former are the kind I like best for landscaping purposes so the pretty white flowers will
appear here and there all season long. Unlike many other fruits, you can harvest strawberries from
the very start. Harvest your berries as soon as the color turns, but watch out for marauding birds.
A covering of bird netting can help prevent loss if it becomes a big problem.
Strawberries don't store in the fridge for very long but you can freeze them, bake them, or create
jams and preserves to store them.
Over the Garden Fence
To store strawberries as long as possible, they need to be dry and unwashed. Wrap them in a paper towel
so they aren't touching each other and put them in a lidded glass jar in the fridge. This way they will store
for about a week. Wash just before using them.
Perennial Edibles and Nuts to Grow
These perennial plants, shrubs, or nut trees make great fruiting additions if you have the space
to dedicate to them. Some, like asparagus, are perennials that need plenty of space. Others, like
walnut, are fabulous shade trees but can inhibit the growth of other plants in the area.
Asparagus (
Asparagus officinalis
)
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that is rather expensive to purchase in the grocery store, but very
easy to grow for yourself in a garden. And if you are the type of person who likes to maximize his
time, energy, and money, you'll be pleased to find out that asparagus is a perennial vegetable. This
means you will only have to plant asparagus once, but you'll have a harvest year after year.
Asparagus plants are often available as 2-year-old crowns with a long, stable root system already in
place. Because asparagus is a perennial vegetable, I have had the most success purchasing the plants
already started in this fashion. Asparagus is available in seed, but it will take two or three years
before any shoots of harvestable size are produced. By planting 1- or 2-year-old crowns and roots,
you can begin to harvest the very next year.
These perennials are what many call a “heavy feeder.” This means that it needs to have plenty of
rich, organic material to keep the soil well fertilized. This can be as simple as a thick layer of mulch
or compost added onto the garden bed each year. Maintenance is easy with a yearly trimming of
old fronds in the late winter or early spring. This will allow room for the new shoots that appear in
early spring.
