Potatoes & Strawberries

[Guest guest]

Our spuds are almost two feet high now, and some are starting to sort of

fall over. Is that normal? I am not sure if they are being sat on by some

creature. I plan to mulch them heavily with pine needles, instead of

earthing them up. Is that a good idea? The soil they are planted in has a PH

of about 5.2, but I just found out that 5.5 is the most acid they should be

planted in. They are thriving, so I reckon that the compost I put in the

beds must have altered the PH somewhat.

 

Out of 150 strawberry plants we planted, only 30 survived, and I wondered if

maybe the PH was just too acid for them too. We have them interplanted with

onions.

 

I planted corn, 4 to a hole, one for the blackbird one for the crow, and

that leaves two to grow as they say. Of course it was a bit silly of me to

do that, because we have neither blackbirds or crows, and consequently all

the seeds came up. So the question is, how big should I let them get before

thinning and transplanting? Same question for Broccoli and Lettuce? Oh yes

and how far apart to plant those last two?

 

Sorry for being such a rank neophyte! Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Its a pity that weeds don't fetch any income. We left our weeding way too

long, and have spent the last two weeks with a bumper harvest of choice

weeds. I would compost it, but it is all full of seeds, and unfortunately

many of those horrible creeping grasses have already seeded the ground.

 

Hand weeding two acres is no joke, 14 days on your knees, and were not even

finished! I want to put in a cover crop, but so far have not figured what to

put in, and we have been so busy with terracing etc. I really wish we had

someone who was experienced with natural farming to help us. Mauritius is a

great holiday destination, so if any of you organic growing experts need a

break, come to Mauritius, and I'll show you around, in return for a bit of

advice.

 

Your servant

Samba das