Time For A New Strawb Bed

We have had the same plant offspring for a number of years now, so it's time for 'new blood'.

Once the decision was made we searched the internet to find a what plants we wanted and a dealer in our general vacinity.
Once we knew what we wanted and located a dealer, we placed the order for 140 plants (40 for Hetty from up the way and the rest for ourselves). The plants cost 20 cents apiece.

The dealer was up at the edge of Friesland so it was far enough away to make a day's outing of it. It was the same day that we picked-up that bell for the lottie.
We got back home late that evening, so we had to get up early the next morning to go out and plant those plants as soon as we could.

We had prepared a bed where the spuds had been and worked in compost, green manure and rotted cow manure a month prior.
The prepared ground.

The plants were excellent specimens. We soaked them in water for two hours prior to setting them out. Aren't they lovely?

I dig a planting hole and form a small mound in the bottom to place the plant on.

I spread the roots out like one does when planting asparagus spiders.

Then I cover the roots and firm the soil, taking great care not to have the growing point above or below the soil surface. I leave a slight depression to collect rainwater.

After the planting of the plantlets was done, I stepped-back to admire my work.

I had three different sorts: Korona, Lambada and Polka.

I then put the remaining plants in a bed prepared over in the old plot. If these plants (and the second year ones) do it, I am going to have quite a glut next year! keep your fingers crossed

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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html

Thanks folks for your encouragement for the coming year.
Whew!...That was some work, I'll tell you.
I shall give them a bit of potash in another week or so...then I shall dress them with an especially low pH soil type (for azalias/rhododendrons) when the weather begins to get a bit nippy and then things will be ready for the winter.

Great minds indeed, EJ! Well don't just sit there glowing...tell what kind you ordered. I have investigated so much that I am genuinely curious what kind you chose.
Mine are earlies and mains.

Biita, it's exciting to hear that you will be doing the same this year. I hope that you will send some pics. I'm really interested to know how it develops way up there. Do you grow the so-called "alpine" type? They have an excellent fragrance and some say the best taste.

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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html