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sheeshshe
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How deep of a raised bed for strawberries?

If I were to move my strawberries out front, it is VERY acidic there. So, I'd have to bring in dirt/ how deep would I need to make it so it isn't effected by the acidity?

Reason for moving them is because my raspberry plants are thriving back there, and they're starting to spread. which I love! And the strawberries were planted too wide and I want to plant them in narrower beds.

Northernfox
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30cm depending on the variety. You can also balance the acidity in the soil using a number of off the self products.

Son skimp on the depth. I think I lost my sSierra F1 because they are in a shallow bed.

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sheeshshe
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the thing is, it is near pine trees. I think that is the source of my acidity. will 30 cm be enough to get away from the piney soil? what about the pine needles that fall, I think that also contributes. :(

Northernfox
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It should be enough. The new pine needles as long as you clean them up they take awhile to break down and release the acidity.

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sheeshshe
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when I put in the raspberries in that area, I put them in and they did horribly. so then I dug them up 2 years later and put a layer of garden soil/compost mix. about 6 inches. It didn't help :( it didn't compact down to about 4 inches. I figured it would be ok because they are shallow roots, but nope :( I havent' been good at removing the pine needles though it is sort of hard to do with prickly plants.

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applestar
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Maybe consider doing things that would raise pH --

E.g. Make the raised bed with cinder blocks, limestone, or granite; mulch with marble chips or sea shells....

I believe strawberries can handle lower pH than raspberries, too.

Northernfox
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Oh I know how to get the pine needles up easily!!! Shop vacuum !! Sounds silly but it works :)

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ReptileAddiction
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Why don't you just build a bed with a bottom? You still would have to clean off the surface of the beds but that wouldn't be too difficult. I would probably only make it like a foot to a foot and a half but that might be kinda shallow.

Dillbert
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or just saturate the area with pelletized limestone.

it doesn't "do" anything - basically if conditions are "acid" the limestone "reacts" - if there's no acid, it sits there looking particularly pretty, but does not "make things alkaline" as would more active forms of "lime"

ps: do NOT dump cement into your soil as you may read in other messages.

Northernfox
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The cement might make your soil hard...



LOL :) ok jokes not funny. It is 320 am and I have been up for 2 hours whohahahhaha

imafan26
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Put at least 20% compost in the soil mix. Compost will help to buffer the pH of the soil and add dolomite lime to adjust pH upward. Strawberries like acidic condition pH 5.8-6.2. It will take a while for the pH to change, about 6 months on average so adding compost would be the best immediate solution and of course cleaning up the needles.

Blueberry33
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So glad I found this topic as I have strawberries in a "planter" and I am wondering whether they are in a good position. The trouble being that they have lots of really good leaves and and look really well but the crop is quite sparse.
(I wanted to add a photo but apparently it's too big and I don't know how to adjust it!)

Northernfox
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Are you clipping the runners, have enough space and providing enough nitrogen ?

dtizme
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Any wild raspberries I've seen are growing in bushes filled with pine trees. Not sure if strawberries like slightly acidic soil or not.

ccar2000
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My strawberries love pine needles, plant some borage in the bed with them as well, they are good companion plants. I have raised beds made with 10" lumber.



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