From: snag_one@msn.com   
      
   On 3/24/2019 8:18 PM, Paul Drahn wrote:   
   > On 3/24/2019 6:43 AM, songbird wrote:   
   >> Paul Drahn wrote:   
   >>> On 3/19/2019 8:34 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:   
   >>>>     So I decided the easiest way to get mulch around the   
   >>>> strawberries is   
   >>>> to use shredded paper - but I'm unsure about what paper is safe .   
   >>>> Useta   
   >>>> be that glossy paper was not , but newsprint was . I *think* most   
   >>>> modern   
   >>>> inks are soy based and safe , but I'm not sure . It'd sure be nice to   
   >>>> use all those spam mails for something productive instead of   
   >>>> burning them .   
   >>>>   
   >>> We cover the strawberries with Ponderosa pine needles for the winter.   
   >>> Then remove most of them in the Spring(about now). And leave some   
   >>> needles to use as mulch when the new leaves begin to grow. Keeps   
   >>> irrigation water off the berries, too.   
   >>>   
   >>> Paul in Central Oregon   
   >>   
   >>    hi Paul,   
   >>   
   >>    i don't recall you posting here before so welcome.  :)   
   >>   
   >>    if the plants are established i don't always bother   
   >> mulching them for the winter at all.  this past winter   
   >> was as bad as they can get for plants with too many   
   >> times of bare ground and very cold chills down past   
   >> -20F.  frost heave can pop late season transplanted   
   >> crowns right out of the ground by spring.   
   >>   
   >>    this past fall i managed to get the strawberry patch   
   >> done earlier in the fall/late summer and it looks like   
   >> i have survivors enough.  just have to see how they   
   >> green up and hope the spring isn't too crazy with the   
   >> frosts when they are flowering.   
   >>   
   >>    some times i do put some pine needles on them but not   
   >> every year - it comes down to how busy i am with other   
   >> things and if i get to it.   
   >>   
   >>    i'm not sure what the irrigation water on the berries   
   >> would do as far as i can tell the berries are in good   
   >> shape here even with our normal rain falls.  as long as   
   >> i get them picked when they are ripe.   
   >>   
   >>    to prevent mold and bug issues i pick everything that   
   >> is ready even the berries that are partially eaten by   
   >> chipmunks or birds.  there are some berries that the   
   >> worms or wood lice will get after and i pick those too   
   >> if i notice them.  any scraps that i can't eat will get   
   >> fed to the worm bins (along with the tops/leaves).   
   >>   
   >>   
   >>    songbird   
   >>   
   > I've lurked here for years, but seldom see anything to comment on.   
   >   
   > We live in the Central ORegon desert and have quite sandy soil,   
   > Actually all volcanic ash! Water drops bounce up the sand and gets on   
   > the berries and gives them a gritty texture, even after trying to wash   
   > them. So, the pine needles break up the water drops, but still lets   
   > the water get to the soil.   
   >   
   > The needles also help to keep the jeans clean when I have to kneel   
   > down to pick the berries.   
   >   
   > Paul   
      
      Haven't I seen you post in some of the metalworking groups ?   
      
   --   
     Snag   
   Yes , I'm old   
   and crochety - and armed .   
   Get outta my woods !   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)