I’m convinced the collective strawberry harvest for 2018 was the best on record, yet my strawberry bed failed to produce and the berries that did form looked perfect on the outside but soft and brown on the inside. A search on the RHS site and Ken Muir hasn’t given a conclusive diagnosis. Any ideas?
The only thing was to start again with fresh stock in a new bed. There are no vacant beds, so this meant swapping the flower bed for strawberries.
It was hard work; lots of transplanting and dividing. I was pleasantly surprised to see the gladioli bulbils I’d planted two years ago are now big fat bulbs. No photos, but I settled them on a bed of grit about 4 inches down. I also took the time to organise some grid support for the gaura, scabious and gladioli rather than trying to rig something at the stage they are flopping everywhere.
I’ve transplanted the box and added the baby cuttings from Park Road that have been in pots for a year – they’ll soon catch up!
The soil in the former flower bed is much lighter, it is a raised bed as I’ve filled it to the height of the wood surround and I hope the strawberries will appreciate that. I also added some MPC and manure.
I’ve chosen Elsanta; it’s a bomb-proof commercial variety but totally delicious when left to fully ripen and not refrigerated into submission.
I find it hard to believe these will be fruiting by June – fingers crossed though.
Tomorrow, I’ll be practising not saying ‘ooof’ as my aching muscles protest when I sit or move…
Allotment Life 
I moved my strawberries into a new bed this week, must be something in the air. Once the sun and warmth get to those plants they will be away, you might not have a huge crop but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the ones you get. Homegrown strawberries have so much more flavour than store bought, in fact most fruit and veggies do but then I might be biased. Roll on the summer 🍓 x
It was certainly the weekend to be at the plot, shifting and lifting.
It looks wonderful. It was so nice over the weekend to do a full day’s gardening, wasn’t it?
It was such a treat to wander around in a t-shirt and still be there at 5pm. Total bliss
Yes, that looks wonderfu! I’m sure it will be worth the effort and both strawberries and flowers/box edging will appreciate all your loving attentions:) Agree with Claire, there must be something in the air… I too spent the weekend refurbishing beds, consolidating a row of raised beds into one long bed …. so I’m “oofing” and “ouching” this morning too. Feels good, though, doesn’t it, to have had such a great allotment weekend!
I hope your ouching and offing wasn’t too bad. But well worth it for the results.
You’ve been busy. Good luck with the strawberries which I’m sure will do well. I’m not that fussed about them so only have about ten plants. xx
That’s very sensible. I could probably manage 10 plants just for eating but then there are 3 for 2 offers and I end up with 30 plants…