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no more than 1800mm (6feet) and is easily grown up a cane. And the beauty of it is that you cut it down at the end of the year and start again!
As with fruit trees you need to choose your pots or containers carefully. Once again you want to see the roots fill up available space before potting on and you must stake your plants. Possibly the only exception to this is strawberries where
you can fit quite a few plants in a small space. Strawberry towers are perfect for this although the same can be achieved by cutting out holes in plastic bins and using them as the planting locations.
The majority of soft fruit plants are relatively long lived and will grow for
some time in pots and containers, and I tend to only repot these every two years rather than annually as with fruit trees. Again, repotting is always done in winter months when the plants are dormant and by moving up sizes as I described for fruit trees. There are, however, two exceptions to this. Raspberries, whilst good for growing in pots and containers, tend to succumb
to disease after a relatively short growing period and suggest that after three growing years they are discarded and then replaced. Strawberries quickly go into decline and ideally should be replaced after every growing season. However, it is possible
to obtain a good crop in the second year, but this is best achieved by removing each
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plant from its growing position, cutting out the spent part of the plant, removing all leaves and replanting in fresh compost. I personally am not an advocate of potting on runners or just leaving the plants in situ and just cutting off all leaves.
Blood, fish and bone or seaweed extract
is again ideal for feeding during the year in early spring and early summer although for strawberries I recommend you using
a seaweed feed such as Maxicrop. As with fruit trees watering is critical and just because soft fruit plants are smaller this does not mean they need any less water!
DUAL ACTION
with slug & snail deterrent As used by the RHS
Reduces weed growth by up to 95% Retains moisture around plants Enriches the soil and improves structure Light, easy to use & lasts up to two years Deters slugs & snails
www.strulch.co.uk Tel: 01943 863610
Strulch – introduce the benefits
of mulching to your plot!
My husband Geoff invented Strulch at Leeds University.
We have been selling it since 2005 and it has grown in popularity because it is a quality organic product with a neutral pH that works on all soil types. It can be used anywhere in the garden including vegetables plots. Strulch works by blocking light which is needed for germination and the texture of Strulch together with added minerals deters slugs and snails.
Add to bare soil to stop weed germination and around plants when they reach a good size. We sell in 12, 25, 40 or 48 x 13.5 kg bags, and you can buy our 9 kg bags from our stockists.
Find out about Strulch on our website – www.strulch.co.uk or give me a call (01943 863610).
Happy cultivating. Jackie Whiteley.