Your 2024 Garden

[JacinLarkwell]

Yes

Could be that it needs certain nutrients

How would I find out what it needs?

 

[Nomadicus]

Lots of variations in size and shapes. Some were more of a wedge shape and some perfect ones. The way they get pollinated I think makes a difference. If they have a balance fertilizer that meets their needs I wouldn't worry about that. I know a small time farmer in TN that grows for his local market makes sure they get some 0-0-60 in the fall I believe. That is what makes the berries large and may contribute to the fullness of their shapes. They sure were good berries too. 0-0-60 is potassium chloride which is a salt like sodium chloride the we use with our foods. It is a pure elemental plant food that helps plants stand dry weather better and contributes to stronger stems. That info about potassium is from a text that I had to study years a go.

 

[Nomadicus]

Here is a picture of good strawberries used in a catalog for strawberry plants. Several different shapes. I bought my plants form the company in the mid 70's and grew the best berries I ever tasted. I think somewhere I have the old photo of my wife and kids planting them by the headlights of our pickup. I'm not in the picture because someone had to man the camera. I did go back to the planting. I don't remember what time that night we finished up. They also made the best strawberry preserves too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Seeds not sprouting was a big topic on the other garden thread. A lot of them came from Baker Creek. I am going to replant chard for the 2nd time today, and see if I get a better germination rate. So far, I'm only 2-3 out of 20. I soaked the second batch, and it was no better than the first. (They weren't Baker Creek seeds.)

That's unfortunate. I almost exclusively buy seeds from there. Most of mine that aren't germinating are due to age (I stubbornly hang on to seeds too long), but I still got 6 year old tomato seeds to sprout just fine.

Some plants I just struggle with, like spinach. I'm sure climate plays a big part in it too - I've tried multiple types of chard and it has all grown very easily for me, but as my seed is rather old I only got maybe 1/3 to germinate this year.

 

[Sally PB]

Have you tried laying a board across newly planted seed after you water them in? You have to keep it checked and remove the board as soon as you see sprouts.

I'd heard of this for carrot, but not for anything else.

This time, I bought a different variety of chard, soaked the seed overnight, and planted them in pots full of compost. If this doesn't work, I'll figure that the garden gods do not want me to grow chard.

 

[NanaK]

I'd heard of this for carrot, but not for anything else.

I done this with carrots, melons, squash, and zinnias. These were all directly seeded in the ground.

 

[tripletfeb]

How would I find out what it needs?

Do a soil test

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Lots of variations in size and shapes. Some were more of a wedge shape and some perfect ones. The way they get pollinated I think makes a difference. If they have a balance fertilizer that meets their needs I wouldn't worry about that. I know a small time farmer in TN that grows for his local market makes sure they get some 0-0-60 in the fall I believe. That is what makes the berries large and may contribute to the fullness of their shapes. They sure were good berries too. 0-0-60 is potassium chloride which is a salt like sodium chloride the we use with our foods. It is a pure elemental plant food that helps plants stand dry weather better and contributes to stronger stems. That info about potassium is from a text that I had to study years a go.

Okay. They were in a greenhouse and then a basement for a bit, so maybe they just weren't getting much pollination. They're outside for the most part now, though I still need to plant them and get them out of the little pot they grew in.

I don't mind some wonky shapes, they just aren't very large and by the time they're red all the way (if not before), they've gone mushy at the tips

 

[Nomadicus]

Okay. They were in a greenhouse and then a basement for a bit, so maybe they just weren't getting much pollination. They're outside for the most part now, though I still need to plant them and get them out of the little pot they grew in.

I don't mind some wonky shapes, they just aren't very large and by the time they're red all the way (if not before), they've gone mushy at the tips

Variety plays a roll in the firmness of the berry. Some are soft to start with and some are firm. Some are red to the core too. There are varieties that will do well in your cold climate. I know that some people in the colder zones used to mulch then down in the fall after they went dormant and didn't uncover them until early spring. Your state should have a site that has all the details of what is best suited for your area. I was in zone 5 and could grow a wider range of good berries there than what I can in zone 8. At my age the trade off for no snow is worth it.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Variety plays a roll in the firmness of the berry. Some are soft to start with and some are firm. Some are red to the core too. There are varieties that will do well in your cold climate. I know that some people in the colder zones used to mulch then down in the fall after they went dormant and didn't uncover them until early spring. Your state should have a site that has all the details of what is best suited for your area. I was in zone 5 and could grow a wider range of good berries there than what I can in zone 8. At my age the trade off for no snow is worth it.

The tag says zone 4-8, so that isn't my concern, I'm just trying to figure out how to get it so the berries stop going bad before they're ripe.