strawberry bed

One of the first welcoming acts of kindness when we took our alloment on ten years ago was the gift of Marshmellow strawberries from a fellow plotholder.

We followed Lawrence Hills advice and planted our strawberries into semi-permanent beds in the four sections of our allotment.

And in the early years the plants flourished and we had excellent crops.

But lately the plants have been grazed by rabbits in winter and failed to thrive during the growing season. The crop has been disappointing.

So this year, we have selected the strongest of the plants we still have, added half a dozen of two earlier varieties and planted them into one permanent bed. The ground was prepared with compost and dressed with bonemeal.

We must provide over winter protection against our rabbit enemy and then look forward to the juiciest, sweetest strawberries in June.