I finally finished ripping out the last half of the overwintered spinach. The first half sat in the fridge for most of the weekend. I finally got to blanching and freezing it. I shouldn't wait that long, but I just didn't feel like it. This last half got blanched and frozen right after harvest. Much better.
But this post is really about my strawberries. Can you see them hiding behind the Johnny-Jump-Ups? I'm such a bad gardener. I should have ripped out or transplanted these ages ago. Instead they have almost killed the plants that were next to them. But they look so happy and cheerful that I couldn't bear to rip them out. But if some plant is going to die, I shouldn't let it be my strawberries.
But not all is lost. The swath of Jump-Ups is only in front of about a third of the strawberries. There are plenty of strawberries starting to get big. In about a week the squirrels will find the berries and then I won't get them. I want to prevent that. So I put in hoops as you can see in the Jump-Up photo. I was going to put some bird netting over it, but then the rain started. I guess the protection will have to wait. I'm being such a wimp of a gardener. A real gardener wouldn't let a little rain chase her away.
I hope the squirrels don't get precocious and start eating all the berries early. In the past they would wait until the largest of the berries is a little more red. They like the ripe ones better but will start eating any of them with the faintest blush once they get a taste for them.
Thanks for the cheering glimpse of strawberries — Happy May Day!
ReplyDeleteJeez, cut yourself a little slack! As it is you make the rest of us look bad ;-) Sorry to hear the solonums are still giving you problems.
ReplyDeleteThose strawberries look so tasty. Someday I'm going to plant some ever bearing strawberries. Ahh, someday.
Squirrels are the bad gardeners! I rip the jump ups back to a decent amount, but they are glorious. I hope they naturalize OUTSIDE of the beds. We have two ripe strawberries; better get them before someone else does. I think it's interesting that a lot of our garden stuff seems coordinated right now, since we're so far apart.
ReplyDeleteAnd when I think of you, "Bad Gardner" is almost NEVER on my mind.
Those jju are too cute to rip out, but I agree the strawberries should win that fight. I hope the squirrels stay away!!
ReplyDeleteI was planning to get my strawberries covered this week as well. Mine aren't as far along as yours. The squirrels know they don't want them until they're ripe, so I'm sure you're safe for a bit. Just keep yourself healthy!
ReplyDeleteI love Johnny-jump-ups and would leave them right where they are. They are so pretty! Hope nothing gets your strawberries. Usually my only problem here is the ants eating some.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are a horrible gardener to allow those happy Johnny-jump-ups to live on in your garden :) Maybe they are hiding the strawberries from the squirrels.
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly amazed at the amount (and fullness) of veggie/fruit/herbs that you grow in your verrrrry neat garden! NOW I have to have JJ-ups!
ReplyDeleteOh, but the Johhny Jump Ups are so pretty with their happy smiling faces!! I put my raincoat on today and planted a few carrot seeds in the carrot boxes where they had not germinated! Come see me in it! Nancy at Cozy Thyme Cottage
ReplyDeleteI hope your strawberries fare better than my have with the squirrels. They have even been pulling young, unripe berries off the plants, not eating them, and leaving them around the garden... grr! Must get some netting!
ReplyDeleteI can't bear to move the johnny-jump-ups too when they so cheerful like that. Your strawberry very prolific. Yummy red edibles to look forward:).
ReplyDeleteThe Johnny Jump Ups give the patch a happy feel. :D The strawberries look like they are doing great. I just keep bird netting over the main strawberry (and the blueberry) patches year round now. Ever since the rabbit ate the strawberry plants down to the nubbins in early spring, I figured there is just too many critters after the plants AND fruit to not keep them covered.
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