Urban Homesteading: Bountiful Berries

Reader Contribution by Heidi Hunt
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Just a year ago I planted seeds and seedlings in new raised garden beds. In one triangle (8 feet on all sides) I nestled in 12 June-bearing strawberry plants. They looked small and inconsequential in the big, straw covered bed. I hoped they would put out runners and perhaps this spring produce enough berries for a good strawberry shortcake dinner.

Ha! Would you look at this bed now! We doubled the size of the bed this spring, making a bit of a lopsided triangle, and transplanted some of the young plants that had taken root in the grass outside the bed. I actually mowed down a dozen such starts last year when the runners were at their peak.

Now with warm weather and cloud watering, the original bed has exploded with large-lobed leaves and blossoms on 6-inch stems. Small green nubbins of strawberries are starting to develop. This weekend I plan to purchase some garden netting to discourage the hungry squirrels from eating the ripe berries (I’m anticipating a phenomenal harvest). My mouth waters just musing on the potential!

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