| What can I do to get my strawberry plants to produce more than just a few berries? I can't get basil, thyme, or mint to grow well what should I do? |
| Strawberries need full sun, rich soil that is evenly moist yet well drained, and the plants also need to be thinned regularly so each one has space to mature. Older plants will bear fewer berries, so you need to keep an ongoing replenishment wiht younger runners so the planting stays vigorous. Sometimes yield is reduced by spring frosts, so you need to watch the plants and be ready to cover them on cold nights. Too, some varieties bear better than others. You might want to check with your local county extension as to the best varieties for your local area and for help in troubleshooting your crop. Basil needs ample sun and rich, warm soil to grow well. If you plant it too early when the soil is still cold, it will not thrive. Also, you need to harvest it before it tries to flower; flowering weakens the plant. This is an annual and short lived. Thyme needs full sun all day and a well drained soil, in heavy soil or clay soil it tends to suffer from root problems. DO not overfertilize this plant, it preferes a lean or low fertility soil. Mint needs evenly moist soil to grow well, and it will tolerate some shade. Mint is usually an aggressive spreader in locations suited to it, especially with moist, rich soil, so keep that in mind when you plant it. You might want to grow it in a half barrel sized planter to keep it contained. I hope this helps you trouble shoot. |
