Market Farming

["Beth Spaugh" <lists AT rhomestead.com>]

I used heavy row cover last year on strawberries, directly over them.  They made it. Lots easier than dealing with straw. Zone 4b.

 

Beth Spaugh

Rehoboth Homestead, Peru NY

http://rhomestead.com      http://www.facebook.com/rhomestead

 

"How we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used." - Wendell Berry

"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances Moore Lappe

It's not that nice guys finish last. They have a whole different notion where the finish line is. - unkonown

 

 

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From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of grizzdover AT gmail.com
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2012 12:56 PM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Oat Straw vs. Wheat Straw to mulch strawberries

 

 

On Sat, Oct 6, 2012 at 11:54 AM, <grizzdover AT gmail.com> wrote:

Hello All,

With this "entertaining" growing season it has been hard for me to find a source for Oat straw to mulch my strawberries and garlic.  I have been able to find a source of wheat straw, but have no personal experience using it and have "heard" that it compacts down too much (thus smothering the overwintering strawberry plants).  Anyone have experience using wheat straw as a mulch on strawberries (or any overwintered crop for that matter)?  I can get enough oat straw to cover about a third of my strawberry crop and could do the rest in wheat, but after losing all my CSA's strawberries this season to early frosts, not sure if I want to experiment : ).

Have a great weekend,

Ben Saunders
Turtle Farm
Certified Organic Fruits, Veggies and Herbs
Granger, Iowa
www.turtle-farm.com