need to plan my strawberry beds

[sheeshshe]

And I forget what the rule of thumb is. if I am getting 50 plants of one variety and 50 of another variety, what square footage do I need? do I want two separate beds? I will plant them in strips. I think I can do 20 feet long IIRC. and how deep do I want them?

[hendi_alex]

Plant them to just below the crown. Excess runner production and weeds can be a real problem in the strawberry bed. A little extra effort up front, with some advanced planning can make the bed much less work and more productive. If planting in conventional rows, perhaps consider a thick weed barrier plus mulch about 1-1.5 feet on each side. Leave a six or so inch strip of soil and then put another 1-2 foot heavy, weed blocking mulch. Then after fruiting, when the plants make runners, you can thin them easily and direct the keepers to be bare strip that you left to the side. If you did that on each side of your row of plants, you would have three nice rows the following season.

[DoubleDogFarm]

sheeshshe,

I use the mat system. Basically plant the bare root crowns 1ft apart in all directions. The photo shows my raised bed. 3ft wide and 20ft long. You should be able to plant all 50 on a bed like this.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Fruits%20and%20Berries/DSC02289.jpg[/img]

You don't see the mulch in this picture, but I too like the heavy mulch idea. keeps the mud off the fruit and leaves. Less diseases, like Grey mold.

Eric

[sheeshshe]

that is the picture I remember! thank you!!!

I will most likely have 100 plants. so should I do 20x6?

how deep do I need the soil? thank you so much!

[alaskagold]

EDDF, is that rebar? How did you get them to loop like that?

I know this isn't the area to ask, but I am admiring your hoops!

[sheeshshe]

doesn't look like rebar to me.

maybe it is black PVC? now I wanna know LOL!

[DoubleDogFarm]

sheeshshe,

(2) 3ft x 20ft beds. 12" deep would be nice, but 8" will work.

I know this isn't the area to ask, but I am admiring your hoops!

Alaskagold
That's the funniest thing I've ever heard! Groucho

Take a look here. No bent rebar, but black waterline.
https://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Metal%20Work/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ16

[alaskagold]

Hey, gotta like someone who admires hoop handi-work!

DDF, you don't mind if I show the hubby these? I really like the design and it would work perfect for my area which has high wind.

[DoubleDogFarm]

alaskagold,

Show away. I think there are over 600 pictures if you want to rummage. They are all public albums.

https://s67.photobucket.com/home/eric_wa/index


Eric

[sheeshshe]

where does one find blackwaterlline?

[alaskagold]

shee are you close to an area that sells plastic everything? you can also order it online if you know the diameter you want.

I have a plastic's/rubber company I can get all kinds of stuff from and it is better quality than lowes or hd.

[DoubleDogFarm]

sheeshshe,

https://www.doitbest.com/PVC+pipe-Advanced+Drainage+Sy-model-18315-doitbest-sku-424464.dib

Plastic Polyethylene Pipe

Eric