The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: Lesley Silvester on July 08, 2016, 01:02:45 am
-
I'm sick to death of losing all my strawberries to slugs or earwigs, so I'm thinking of growing them above ground. I know they are shallow-rooted and I've seen pictures of them growing in containers on the wall, including guttering. I have a suitable wall. Has anyone tried growing them in guttering and, if so, how did it work out? I don't want to buy a lot and have it fixed only to find out it's a waste of time and money.
-
My brother (who is a much better gardener than me) grows his in hanging baskets. That's what I'll be doing next year - looking after my mum's enormous raised bed full of strawberries for the last 2 weeks has wreaked havoc on my back from bending down and my sense of humour from throwing over half the crop away each day due to pests getting to them before me.
-
Thinking how quickly the peas I start off in guttering run out of root space and soil, I don't think guttering would give enough soil and nutrients per plant for a successful crop. Isn't it mainly used for soilless production? Hanging baskets would seem to be the only answer, to keep the fruit right out of the way of slugs and snails. Don't cram too many plants in one basket, and feed frequently.
A barrel would still be in contact with the soil/ground so your pals could easily climb up, birds fly onto them too. Also barrels are difficult to keep watered all the way down.
I gave up on outdoor strawbs partly because of slugs and snails, but also because I always had mildewed fruit and not much fruit anyway. I now grow my strawbs inside the tunnel, with dry soil around the patch so the critturs can't cross to the plants. We've had a fair crop this year, over now.
-
I've seen them grown very successfully in a pallet leaning against a wall. Pallet is lined with plastic and the plants planted between the slats; they then trail down and as well as being delicious its very pretty if you have different coloured flowers. I have mine in hanging baskets too, but they are susceptible to blackbirds, but the pallets can be protected by a net hung from above and protruding far enough out to stop the birds getting in. It could also be a roll type that can be rolled up and hooked to the top for harvesting.
Just found this - full instructions!
http://www.savorylotus.com/how-to-build-a-wall-of-strawberries/ (http://www.savorylotus.com/how-to-build-a-wall-of-strawberries/)
-
That looks great Doganjo. It may our answer as our land is incredibly weedy
-
We grow ours in long thin planters (like the sort you might use for a windowbox). These sit on waist-high shelves in the polytunnel for easy picking, and also so we can grow other things below them.
Not only does this keep the slugs off them, it also lets us move them outside during the winter so the frost kills off the majority of the weevils and other pests.
We peg down any runners into new pots, and this gives us enough new plants each year to be self-sustaining. This method has worked well for us over many years :thumbsup:
-
We grow ours in long thin planters (like the sort you might use for a windowbox). These sit on waist-high shelves in the polytunnel for easy picking, and also so we can grow other things below them.
Not only does this keep the slugs off them, it also lets us move them outside during the winter so the frost kills off the majority of the weevils and other pests.
We peg down any runners into new pots, and this gives us enough new plants each year to be self-sustaining. This method has worked well for us over many years :thumbsup:
[member=2128]Womble[/member] what variety do you use? I tried many varieties and it didn't work, or doesn't it matter?
Thanks
-
I like the idea of the pallet wall. I did also wonder about window box type planters on brackets on the wall. I imagine it would be harder for slugs to climb a brick wall than a planter though. Maybe I'll go for that one.
-
Have you ever lived in a brick house? Believe me slugs and snails have no problem with it whatsoever - I found a shelled small snail at shoulder height today on my back wall
-
I have some in plant troughs, deeper than a window box type. Currently in greenhouse to ripen, and they can be fed along with tom's.
I've wondered about guttering as well, I would think they would need soil/compost replacing every year, but maybe worth it, pictures look good, rows of guttering on the side of the shed, lots of strawbs hanging down. (would weight of crop pull them out of trough?) Or you can get a deeper guttering. Copper tape round the shed should keep slugs off, netting from shed roof keeps birds Off? I think I've talked myself into it for next year :- ).
I have shelf on brackets on an outside wall, lots of potted plants, i do sometimes find slugs there, but not often
-
Have you ever lived in a brick house? Believe me slugs and snails have no problem with it whatsoever - I found a shelled small snail at shoulder height today on my back wall
Exactly. I have snail trails all the way up to the chimney top above the first floor. Hanging baskets or pots/troughs on posts would be the most reliable.. with collars around the posts like the rat keeps on ships mooring lines.
-
Have you ever lived in a brick house? Believe me slugs and snails have no problem with it whatsoever - I found a shelled small snail at shoulder height today on my back wall
I can't say I've ever noticed any on my walls and I've lived in brick houses for years. Of course, there've never been any plants to attract them before. Is there anywhere the *** don't get?
Copper tape it is then.
-
We grow ours on the 'strawberry snake' with a drip irrigation pipe threaded through the bags for watering. The 'snake' is half length posts driven in every 2m with a 'T' cross bar on top and three lines of fencing wire stretched across the whole thing end-to-end. Strawberry sacks of compost sit on top of that with ten plants to a bag. In winter, we take the bags down and lie them on the ground as otherwise they blow off anyway in the wind!
Not sure if that description makes sense so have attached an old picture from one of our magazine articles in case that clears things up!
-
Womble what variety do you use?
I'm sorry, I don't know (wish I did, as they're great!). They were here when we bought the place. Some sort of early variety I think.
-
Have you ever lived in a brick house? Believe me slugs and snails have no problem with it whatsoever - I found a shelled small snail at shoulder height today on my back wall
I can't say I've ever noticed any on my walls and I've lived in brick houses for years. Of course, there've never been any plants to attract them before. Is there anywhere the *** don't get?
Copper tape it is then.
I've only seen them at the back mind you - south facing so maybe it's because it's warmer there? Facing any other direction might be OK?
-
We grow ours on the 'strawberry snake' with a drip irrigation pipe threaded through the bags for watering. The 'snake' is half length posts driven in every 2m with a 'T' cross bar on top and three lines of fencing wire stretched across the whole thing end-to-end. Strawberry sacks of compost sit on top of that with ten plants to a bag. In winter, we take the bags down and lie them on the ground as otherwise they blow off anyway in the wind!
Not sure if that description makes sense so have attached an old picture from one of our magazine articles in case that clears things up!
I remember seeing them when we visited. It's what made me think of growing them off the ground in the first place.
And guess which way my garden faces? The back wall is always warm in summer. When the sun is shining at least.
Have you ever lived in a brick house? Believe me slugs and snails have no problem with it whatsoever - I found a shelled small snail at shoulder height today on my back wall
I can't say I've ever noticed any on my walls and I've lived in brick houses for years. Of course, there've never been any plants to attract them before. Is there anywhere the *** don't get?
Copper tape it is then.
I've only seen them at the back mind you - south facing so maybe it's because it's warmer there? Facing any other direction might be OK?
-
Just watched recording of a repeat of country file from last Sunday, one of the first items was strawberries, grown about waist high?
Seemed to be in plant pots in troughs, with an irrigation line. Strawberries were MASSIVE!
Presumably on iplayer, worth watching for ideas.