| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 29 2010 : 08:52:35 AM
I was just out there looking around and weeding in the strawberry jungle. And I do mean jungle! It's a mess out there. But I saw lots of green berries then all of a sudden I saw red! I huge juicy ripe red berry! It was beautiful and perfect and oh so good! There are a few more almost ripe and I hope I get them before the birds do. I found one already pecked on. But that is so cool! We will be swimming in strawberries soon. I have over 2oo plants, maybe more now.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 10:48:03 AM
Melissa- your wild strawberries sound great though! I bet they make a nice tart jam!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
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| Butterscotch Grove |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 09:27:23 AM
Sigh. I get teeny tiny sour seedy wild strawberries all over my "lawn" starting in late June, and the cultivated plants I put in my raised beds last year didn't survive the winter. Sigh. At least the wild raspberries are easier to use for jam. I'll need to help them spread a bit, and get some more cultivated bushes to put in. I'm REALLY envious of you ladies and your big berry patches!
Melissa
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
| sherrye |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 08:04:14 AM
oh man i wish i could say the same...mine are just waking up. last night was in lower 20s cold nights cold wind in day. hope to dig strawberries to mail out today or tomorrow. depends on weather.
kris i so want a real strawberry.there is nothing like it yum yum sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| Alee |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 06:23:05 AM
Kris, I think that would be a blast. I would love to do something like that. I am so jealous of all of your beautiful strawberries that you have already. Mine still haven't formed their first berries yet- still flowers and tight buds, but at least this year there are more buds than I have seen on my plants before. I might actually get a handful and a half at one time. I think last year I got one berry by the time the slugs at a couple away.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
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| homsteddinmom |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 05:46:50 AM
LOL that would be fun. I hope to have in a few years as many plants as you do! BTW i got my herbs i just need to get them planted!
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 05:23:22 AM
Yep. And this is just the beginning! I hope to sell some also. But need to make some jam too. I sure wish we all lived close together so we could all share. I always said we need a great big 2000 acre commune. That might hold us all. A few acres a piece. That's enough. I would love that.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| homsteddinmom |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 05:05:57 AM
wow kris that sounds YUMMY!!! that is also alot of berries!
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 03 2010 : 7:39:36 PM
I picked almost a gallon of berries today! Yumm! I already had a smoothie for dinner. I might let Kansas have some tomorrow. I don't know yet. I'll see if they last that long. She may have to go pick her own. They are so good and juicy. I have to wash some because of all the mud out there. Good grief, it's almost under water. And weeds. But I ain't complainin'. Not me. I am loving this. I know I will have enough to make the angel food cake and berries for this weekend. I am happy. I need to get some real cream from my friend now and make real whipped cream for the cake. Oh my, I am making me hungry.
Kris
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 4:16:30 PM
Melody, I use the plastic 4'wide netting. It works great and fits my 4x8 bed perfect. In the big patch I would roll out the wider size and that would cover 2 rows. But it took alot for that. And it's irritating to pull it all off just to pick berries. So I quit using it down there.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| melody |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 12:16:13 PM
I have a question about netting. I have one 6 X 8 raised bed with about a dozen strawberry plants. Last year the birds went nuts and devoured any ripe berries I had. I ended up eating only ONE before the rest were consumed. Any ideas how to keep the birds away?
My plants are just now greening up--no blossoms yet.
Thanks!
"The best mirror is an old friend."
- George Herbert
Melody
Farmgirl #525
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| Alee |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 08:42:39 AM
Sounds good, Sherrye! *hugs*
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
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www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
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| sherrye |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 08:32:40 AM
alee you pay shpg i will send plants. i know how tight things are. the same for me. send something you made in trade if you like. no $. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| Alee |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 08:29:19 AM
Sherrye- that would be great. I'll send you my address and then send a check next paycheck (the 14th) okay?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
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| sherrye |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 07:26:34 AM
tomorrow i rest. today more garden stuff. alee send me your address and i will send you some plants. i have WAY so MANY. they are strong and would grow for you. they came from the gurney catalog years ago. they make a big fat berries. papa took up 2 sand boxes that are for the kids. moving them to the farm today.sand and all.then i will dig bunch grasses next. the bush cherries and goumis are blooming now so have to wait on them.i have three apple trees to move today also.planting cool crops too. i love being out all day. i love the hope that resides in seeds. we went and checked out the proprty we may go too. nice- rough but has potential. we have a 26 acre spot to check out too. the organic produce store that carries my products offered it to us.its closer, may have power and water. that would be nice.trying to allow myself to be led. i often turn it over and in the next breath i am taking the control back.lol i am a control freak. let go and let God. happy farming sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| Alee |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 06:49:42 AM
Oh and I am also going to try to pick up some ever bearing strawberry types since I think that will work better for us. Yum Yum!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
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| Alee |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 06:45:44 AM
Kristin- Yes, but I will only get one good handful from my plants- I only have 5 plants! LOL They are the survivors of some I bought back in 2008 when I knew I was going to be moving but I NEEDED to plant something. So they moved from Idaho to Montana. They were then planted in the ground at our first place and I dug them up and moved them with us. I am going to get some more plants this year and I think some of my plants have shot off some babies. Hopefully next year we will have a decent harvest! LOL
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
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Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 05:32:06 AM
SHerrye, you have been a busy farmgirl. I worked out in my yard yesterday digging up grass in a flower bed. Yikes! Lots of work. Yes, I am not thrilled with the weed barrier stuff. Any hole they come right through. And some grasses are just too strong for it to hold them back. I think black plastic would be better. I wish I could do that around all the plants in my gardens so I don't have to til all the time. And we need water. I keep holding off because they say it's supposed to rain. But it hasn't yet.
I picked a handful of berries yesterday! They are so good and juicy and sweet. I hope I get alot next weekend now.
Alee, the berries are right behind now!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - May 01 2010 : 7:35:35 PM
started digging berries up today. my buns are screaming. we moved about 25 boysenberries. i dug them yesterday with the backhoe. but at the farm i had to dig the holes. my daughterinlaw helped. it was fun. we planted 50 asaragus too. i dug strawberries. more to dig.just getting started. the wind blew HARD and cold today.it wore all us out.living in the desert is harsh. we have cold springs hot summers. i was happy to see the boysenberries all lined up.man you girls are serious jelly and jam makers. the dandelions are just now open. so in my spare time i will make some.kris are you sorry you put barrier down. we always struggle with that choice or just straw and weeds? sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| Alee |
Posted - May 01 2010 : 08:34:10 AM
Wow! You are lucky! The only thing I have so far is flowers!!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 01 2010 : 06:04:48 AM
Anna, they are alot of work for sure. When we first got the 200 original plants we made 7 hills about 30 feet long. Did the black weed barrier and put thich mulch down the rows. They looked good that year. And we had to pick off all the little berries that first year. Just about broke my heart. The next year they doubled. The year after that so did the weeds. They are at the bottom of the garden so get lots of water when it rains so the mulch would all get washed down to the ends of the rows. Then I started getting really lazy about them. Now this year my hubby weed eats over them and I just pick through the weeds. I know that's bad but it works. I need a few truck loads of mulch again.
I did dig up enough for an 8'x4' raised bed a few months ago and they are all full of nice green berries so far. I keep them all mulched and covered with a net to keep pesky chickens and birds out. But the ones in the jungle have red berries already. So I don't know. There is something to say about weeds being good protection I guess.
I still have some in the freezer from last year I am using for my smoothies now. I'll fill it back up soon I hope. Sounds like you will be busy with all your berries, Anna.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Annab |
Posted - May 01 2010 : 03:38:04 AM
Anyone out there who has their own plants like you ladies do, hats off!
Berry season opened in central NC a few days ago and I just can't get enough!
We have more than enough land to plant strawberries, but since I can and sell jams at Christmas time, I need LOTSA berries!
Went and picked the other afternoon and got 4 2 gallon buckets slammed full! Will keep this up 'till the season runs out. Then it will be blueberies, blackberries and raspberries!
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| prariehawk |
Posted - Apr 29 2010 : 8:13:26 PM
Lucky you! I like strawberries with vanilla ice cream. And they have to be fresh-picked. Mmm, I'm getting hungry just thinking about them...
"There is more to life than increasing its speed". Mahatma Gandhi
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 29 2010 : 09:51:32 AM
Well then I should not have to worry about the birds then. I literally have to wade in there. The grass is waist deep. And the weeds aren't far behind. That's what happens when hubbys are away too long. When he gets home we are doing some major weed whacking down there. He did weed eat through the berries but that was last month. It's not too awful bad in the bed but around it is bad. I can't wmow because the mower would just shut off in the tall grass. And I can't put cows or goats down there because they would eat all the apple pear and grape vines and the strawberries too. So I will have to wait for help.
Brandee, I love going out there and picking them right off and eating them. I don't use anything on them so they are good to eat right out there.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 29 2010 : 09:44:44 AM
if you leave a few weeds kris the birds will miss a few.when they are growing you can raise their sugar level. its called a brix mix if you buy it. you can mix unsulphered liquid molasses and seaweed or algae and plain table sugar in water. NOT too strong. they love the minerals from the algae and the sugar and iron from the molasses. you can add a touch of epsom salts to for mag. just a thought happy days in the garden sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| homsteddinmom |
Posted - Apr 29 2010 : 09:28:40 AM
WOW thats awesome!! We put in a strawberry bed this year it is 20 feet long and 4 feet wide, i started out with 40 plants 30 days ago and i already have runners that have set and starting more! We will transplant those to a new bed that dh wants to build! Have fun with the berries! They taste so good just picked outta your own garden!
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
