***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

Kass, since you are planting in a two foot wide row with Bermuda on both sides, I would would remove about half of the mother plants. You may find as you clean out the Bermuda (runner grass) roots in the spring, that you sacrifice some of the young offsets. having the mother plants helps to fill in the gaps. I have mine in a raised bed and simply leave the mother plants until the bed is filled. Then, I clean out the bed and move grass free plants to a new bed to start a new bed. Bermuda grows quickly in a well watered bed at ground level and a raised bed just slows it down a little. But, strawberries are worth the effort.

Welcome back Donnie!

And glad to hear Monty is getting POOPS planning going.

Sorry to hear about Jack's ewe losing her kids.

 

[donnie]

HA HA , i was just asking tara about poops the other night lol ... was hoping there was going to be one , where is it going to be at this year or has that even been decided

 

[Kassaundra]

Kass, since you are planting in a two foot wide row with Bermuda on both sides, I would would remove about half of the mother plants. You may find as you clean out the Bermuda (runner grass) roots in the spring, that you sacrifice some of the young offsets. having the mother plants helps to fill in the gaps. I have mine in a raised bed and simply leave the mother plants until the bed is filled. Then, I clean out the bed and move grass free plants to a new bed to start a new bed. Bermuda grows quickly in a well watered bed at ground level and a raised bed just slows it down a little. But, strawberries are worth the effort.

Welcome back Donnie!

And glad to hear Monty is getting POOPS planning going.

Sorry to hear about Jack's ewe losing her kids.

Thanks, I am mulching heavily too, so hope that helps. I have a new plan for runner grass roots (insert evil laugh) I am going to start raising meat rabbits and plan on using that as my "hay" or fiber source for my meat rabbits. The individual beds are 2 feet wide, but they are on either side of a fence making them actually 4 feet wide. I am interplanting garlic, strawberries and raspberries. The garlic is supose to help w/ bug control on the strawberries.

 

[countryhen]

Free NN rooster got him from KrazyKat but he fights my Orpington Rooster. Can't keep him anyone want him? I'm near Idabel

he has only one eye but is in good health

 

[erinszoo]

A question for successful strawberry growers. I am planting this spring (basically now) plants, my question is this summer/fall when they are finished bearing and making runners do I dig up and remove the "mother" plant and leave the runners for next years berries?

We leave our beds which are 3 feet wide and 9 feet long until they are full of strawberries and we have no more room to plant the runners. It's usually about every three years. Our mother plants continue to produce. If you don't get much grass involved you can just remove older plants to make way for new runners as well and mulch with compost in the fall so it has the winter to break down and enrich the soil for spring growing again.

 

[erinszoo]

Sorry, my computer is acting up and I seem to be making double posts. AAAUUUGGGHHH

 

[Greybear23]

Hi all at the library, i sent a post already but have no idea where it went, anyways Donny have Tara get on when you talk to her again, we miss her!!! Have a great day all!!! Lynn

 

[Cjarvis]

Yes, they are in a breeding pen but the hen is off and on with laying. For a while she was laying 6 eggs a week but with the up and down temps, she has been sporadic for about 5 weeks. I hatched 6 chicks this Winter but only2 have survived. I wonder if they aren't hardy because of a narrow gene pool or just that it is Winter? I sure have less success with Winter chicks in general.

It is much harder on the winter hatched chicks, brooders almost have to be insulated to maintain better temperature. I have a brooder building that I close during the winter (cockrell hatching season) and still have to cover my brooders with blankets to help keep temps right. You should also note that these young birds are often kept inside till around 12-14 weeks of age and have a higher mortality rate to coccidiosis once placed out on the ground.
The other thing about fall / winter hatches the birds are almost always smaller and tighter feathered due to environmental conditions when they are growing. If you will place the lights they grow under on a timer for a 10 hr day the pullets will lay better through out thier life too.

 

[BetsyOK]

Donnie, so sorry you lost your munchkin male to neighbor dogs. They are one of the major predators around!

 

[Poco Pollo]

(poco?)

Donnie!

You're back

. We have missed your presence. My classes are overwhelming (my own fault, since I ask my students to write coherent papers), so I'm not online much. It sure is nice to see your posts.

I recommend a broad-brimmed hat and heavy-duty waterproof togs if rampant fecal storms return. Budget cuts and threats from within plague education. I've got a big hat in my car

.

So how are things? I sure hope POOPS happens this year on a day I can attend. It would be great to visit with you and all the BYC folks.

I'm on my second round with this UR bug. I picked it up from students, got a lot better, hosted family for half a week before a funeral and got it again, so now I'm wrecked. Robin's given me some herb tips, so I'm optimistic for a recovery soon. See you online : )