A big bowl of strawberries is a feast for the eyes and the palate

I love strawberries fresh from the garden and eat them for breakfasts on buttered toast or for dessert. They really demand a lot of care. This wet spring has started some fungla diseases on my plants that have never been seen before. I have "strawberry scorch" and my neighbor has some "grey rot". Nonetheless I just picked a quick half gallon of berries and will be eating them for the next few days.

These two fungal diseases can't be cured by organic spray. The disease site I use mentions copper or sulpher spray to eliminate the infection. My grandkids are coming and I'm not about to spray something on the plants that is a heavy metal, so I will use my regular method, which is to pick off dry dead leaves which carry the fungus. Some of the plants are so scorched I think I'll just dig them up. Then fertilize! The organic gardeners solution to most pests and diseases is just that simple. Feed the plants well; the strong and slightly more resistant will live and be the better for it. The really best way to fertilze is to dig a little composted manure around each plant and pick the weeds while you are there. It's time consuming but you will be rewarded with lush healthy plants and tons of berries.

June 29, 2010

A big bowl of strawberries is a feast for the eyes and the palate