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another strawberry and asparagus question
2/28/2012 6:14:20 PM
I have 20 strawberry plants and did a 26 ft. long by 16" high by 24" wide (2 block) raised bed today. I started mixing the mix for the bed and just to half fill it took 17 bags of compost , 10 cuft of peatmoss and 56 lbs of vermiculite (sp). Can't afford to fill it up...
Do you think that 8" deep would be enough for the plants (there is weed block fabric in the bottom)?
Also have the same issue with the asparagus bed (will be the same size) do you think 8" depth will be enough?
Thank you for any help
BTW: this is my 1st experience with raised beds, I always just plant in the dirt.
Do you think that 8" deep would be enough for the plants (there is weed block fabric in the bottom)?
Also have the same issue with the asparagus bed (will be the same size) do you think 8" depth will be enough?
Thank you for any help
BTW: this is my 1st experience with raised beds, I always just plant in the dirt.
2/28/2012 6:58:30 PM
RR, not for sure about the depth but I assume your worried about the weedblocker and not having enough moisture in the soil? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway, in my strawberry bed. I don't worry about weeds. The strawberry plants will prevent almost any weed from growing. There are a few, but not many. As I said in your other thread, the stawberry plants will take over.
Anyway, in my strawberry bed. I don't worry about weeds. The strawberry plants will prevent almost any weed from growing. There are a few, but not many. As I said in your other thread, the stawberry plants will take over.
2/28/2012 7:06:12 PM
Originally Posted By casey1:
RR, not for sure about the depth but I assume your worried about the weedblocker and not having enough moisture in the soil? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway, in my strawberry bed. I don't worry about weeds. The strawberry plants will prevent almost any weed from growing. There are a few, but not many. As I said in your other thread, the stawberry plants will take over.
RR, not for sure about the depth but I assume your worried about the weedblocker and not having enough moisture in the soil? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway, in my strawberry bed. I don't worry about weeds. The strawberry plants will prevent almost any weed from growing. There are a few, but not many. As I said in your other thread, the stawberry plants will take over.
actually I am more concerned that the bed is deep enough for the root system for both the berries and more especially the asparagus..
2/28/2012 7:13:30 PM
I'd guess that 8 inches is enough depth for the strawberries. I think the outer ring on my pyramid is only 6 inches.
For the asparagus, they usually say to plant it in the bottom of a trench and fill it in as the stalk grows, so you could probably do the eight inches now and add a couple inches later. Mine has settled and I doubt it is a full 8 inches deep at this point (3rd year).
For the asparagus, they usually say to plant it in the bottom of a trench and fill it in as the stalk grows, so you could probably do the eight inches now and add a couple inches later. Mine has settled and I doubt it is a full 8 inches deep at this point (3rd year).
2/28/2012 7:18:19 PM
Originally Posted By Skunkum:
I'd guess that 8 inches is enough depth for the strawberries. I think the outer ring on my pyramid is only 6 inches.
For the asparagus, they usually say to plant it in the bottom of a trench and fill it in as the stalk grows, so you could probably do the eight inches now and add a couple inches later. Mine has settled and I doubt it is a full 8 inches deep at this point (3rd year).
I'd guess that 8 inches is enough depth for the strawberries. I think the outer ring on my pyramid is only 6 inches.
For the asparagus, they usually say to plant it in the bottom of a trench and fill it in as the stalk grows, so you could probably do the eight inches now and add a couple inches later. Mine has settled and I doubt it is a full 8 inches deep at this point (3rd year).
so you do asparagus like potatos so to speak.(obviously 1st time with asparagus)...
2/28/2012 7:23:00 PM
In Mels book he says 6" is fine. I had 48 strawberries in a 4'x4' 6" deep bed last year that fared quite well.
2/28/2012 8:42:02 PM
Originally Posted By jeffco55:
In Mels book he says 6" is fine. I had 48 strawberries in a 4'x4' 6" deep bed last year that fared quite well.
In Mels book he says 6" is fine. I had 48 strawberries in a 4'x4' 6" deep bed last year that fared quite well.
Thanks, I don't have Mel's book so I appreciate the info....
2/28/2012 9:08:55 PM
I just thought of another thing about growing asparagus in Mel's Mix: the mix is light and asparagus gets tall. Mine falls over- the mix isn't heavy enough to hold it up. I need to put some support in there, I guess. Something like a line of string (like a fence) will probably work.
The last couple of years, I just let if fall over.
"Set the plants 15 to 18 inches apart and 6 to 8 inches deep, mounding the soil slightly under each plant so the crown is slightly above the roots. Crowns should be dirty wheat-brown in color, plump, healthy-looking and have 15 to 20 storage roots. Remove any rotted roots before planting. Spread the roots out over the mound of soil and cover the crown with 2 inches of soil. As the plants grow, continue to pull soil over the crowns (about 2 inches every two to three weeks) until the trench is filled and the crowns are 6 to 8 inches deep. Water if rainfall is inadequate." Clemson University Growing Asparagus
The last couple of years, I just let if fall over.
"Set the plants 15 to 18 inches apart and 6 to 8 inches deep, mounding the soil slightly under each plant so the crown is slightly above the roots. Crowns should be dirty wheat-brown in color, plump, healthy-looking and have 15 to 20 storage roots. Remove any rotted roots before planting. Spread the roots out over the mound of soil and cover the crown with 2 inches of soil. As the plants grow, continue to pull soil over the crowns (about 2 inches every two to three weeks) until the trench is filled and the crowns are 6 to 8 inches deep. Water if rainfall is inadequate." Clemson University Growing Asparagus
2/28/2012 9:46:09 PM
Thanks for the link, very informative and exactly what I needed...
