Intercropping in a new strawberry patch

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Intercropping in a new strawberry patch
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Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 05 9:54 am Post subject: Intercropping in a new strawberry patch

I shall pop out and get a photo soon, but just to start off...we're redoing a veg patch as a permanent fruit patch. The apples and kiwis were already there. Now TD has planted the grapes in another row, and next to them two rows of newly bought strawberry runners. For once in our lives we've followed the spacing in the books which is something like 1ft or 1 1/2 in between plants and 2ft or 2 1/2 between rows.

So the plants are soooo tiny, and the gaps of beautiful smooth clear soil in between are huuuuuuuge.

Do we think it would do any harm if I pop in some radishes, rocket etc that could be pulled out before the strawbs start getting big?

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 05 3:15 pm Post subject:
Shouldn't be a problem, Bugs. If the strawbs start getting away quickly (as they can do) you won't loose much if they swamp the seedlings and the radishes & rocket won't do any harm to the strawbs if you keep eating the former and cutting the latter! We grow strawbs through a layer of Mypex to combat weeds.

Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 05 10:55 pm Post subject:
Strawberries, being originally forest fruit, do quite well in semi-shade; I over plant my strawberry bed with climbing beans up wigwams of hazel poles and canes. Everything does well. What would be a good idea in between would be some flowers to attract pollinators as well. Sarah D

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 8:25 am Post subject: Re: Intercropping in a new strawberry patch

Bugs wrote:

The apples and kiwis were already there.

Kiwis? You have kiwi fruit outdoors?

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 8:31 am Post subject:

Not fruit, as such...we have two plants.

One is grown from seed by some friends and came to us as a 4 inch plant....it reached a good six feet last year

. No flowers as yet, but the new leaves are red and furry, as good as any ornamental. Flowers or fruit would be an unexpected bonus.

The other is...Jenny? Supposedly self fertile, bought from Homebase, I think we've had it two years, in a pot the first year then in the ground. A bit less vigorous than the seed, last year it flowered very prettily but we weren't there to check fertilisation and then it got cold and wet. But both plants are surviving very nicely even though we get quite bad and quite late frosts. Touch wood.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 8:49 am Post subject:
I know someone up near Anglesey who gets Kiwis to fruit. Planted against a sheltered wall with some sun, they seem to do very well. However, the guy is a horticultural genius!

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 9:01 am Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

However, the guy is a horticultural genius!

What makes you think I'm not, eh? Wanna step outside?

Just mind you don't fall over the spare pots, the dead papaya, or those sick looking azalea seedlings. Hmm. Perhaps you're right.

Nice plants though, and ours get plenty of light, although they aren't against a wall they have the shed behind them so you never know

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 9:12 am Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

I know someone up near Anglesey who gets Kiwis to fruit. Planted against a sheltered wall with some sun, they seem to do very well. However, the guy is a horticultural genius!

I was wondering about this - the Kiwi I bought from Wilko's earlier this year is doing very well in the greenhouse but its starting to look like it needs something to climb and I was wondering if I put it outside in a warm sheltered spot against a South facing wall whether it would be OK there - Morecambe has quite a moderate climate due to the shelter of the bay and the surrounding penines

Think I'll let it get a little larger then hopefully it will establish well outside

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45427
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 9:17 am Post subject:
They can grow huge Jo, is yours a self fertile one?

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 11:13 am Post subject:
Wisley grow them outside and they fruit. The plants themselves are quite hardy and will grow several meters a year if you let them.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 11:15 am Post subject:
How much light do they need? Do they have a woody stem, do they have a whopping great big root system? Are they the answer to an ugly shaded wall with four bricks depth and one bricks thickness of soil?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 11:18 am Post subject:
They are not evergreen. They have a sort of hairy woody stem, not like most plants. They seem to grow anywhere, but I dare say need good light to fruit. Ours is in sun from about midday and flowered. The closest thing they remind me of is a hairy grape vine and I think they can be grown in similar ways, pruning etc...

Blue Peter

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 11:24 am Post subject:
Generally, I believe, (self-fertile ones apart), you need a male and female plant to get fruits, Peter.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 11:27 am Post subject:
I'm a little suspicious of our self fertile one. It would probably do better with some others.

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 05 1:30 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

They can grow huge Jo, is yours a self fertile one?

I've no idea - just thought it would be interesting to try and grow one and it was only £3.99

I'll have to get it out side then if its going to get huge - tonights job then

Joanne

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