Introduction
Hey there, this is Jamie, and I’m excited to share with you the progress of our strawberry plants in this blog post. We planted these strawberries around two and a half months ago, and they are thriving beautifully. In this part two of our series, I’ll walk you through how we are taking care of our plants as the weather gets colder.
Planting and Protecting Strawberry Plants
We planted 300 strawberry plants, and every single one of them successfully set roots, which is fantastic news. As the temperatures in North Alabama drop to consistent 20 to 25 degrees at night, it’s time to protect our plants. We opted to cover them with wheat straw instead of hay to avoid weed growth in our garden. Wheat straw is cost-effective, at around $6 per bale, and won’t introduce unwanted plants into your garden.
Covering the Strawberry Plants
Covering our strawberry plants with wheat straw was a straightforward process that took us about 30 minutes with one person. We have 350-foot rows with 100 plants per row, totaling 300 plants. It only required three bales of wheat straw, costing us approximately $20 in total. This simple step will help insulate the plants and protect them from the harsh winter conditions.
Conclusion
I hope you found this update on our strawberry plants helpful and informative. By following these steps, you can ensure the health and success of your strawberry garden. Stay tuned for more updates on our gardening adventures!
### Related Questions:
1. **Why is wheat straw recommended over hay for covering strawberry plants?**
Wheat straw is recommended over hay for covering strawberry plants because it doesn’t introduce as many weeds into the garden, unlike hay.
2. **How much does a bale of wheat straw cost, and how many bales were used to cover the strawberry plants?**
A bale of wheat straw costs around $6, and it took three bales to cover 300 strawberry plants, totaling about $20.
3. **What is the significance of covering strawberry plants with wheat straw during colder nights?**
Covering strawberry plants with wheat straw helps insulate them and protect them from the cold temperatures, ensuring their survival during winter.
4. **How long did it take to cover the strawberry plants with wheat straw, and how many people were involved in the process?**
It took about 30 minutes with one person to cover the strawberry plants with wheat straw.
5. **Where can one purchase wheat straw for covering strawberry plants?**
Wheat straw can be purchased at agricultural supply stores, such as co-ops, for around $6 per bale.