Re: Strawberries
Deborah Lindsay wrote:
>
> Moira,
>
> Here it is a really weedy weed in moister parts of the garden.
> In dryer soil it is better behaved. Also as someone mentioned it gets a nasty
> rust fungus at times. On the other hand it will out-compete and smother most
> other weeds here so there are benefits if one likes it. It is not deeply rooted
> and I let it romp in some of the Roof Garden beds 'til I have something more
> interesting to put in, or until I become annoyed with it...
>
Deborah
Odd how plants can behave so differently with a different microclimate.
Interestingly, whoever imported Duschania into this contry managed to
get it without the rust, which makes it somewhat more attractive to
grow.
I like a strawberry groundcover under my dwarf apple trees, but there I
have the Alpine variety (white on one side of the path and red on the
other). The tiny fruits (which come almost all year) are a delightful
snack for anybody passing through.
The white fruits are supposed to be identical with the red except in
colour, but to me they never taste so good!!. I got them in the first
place as they are not supposed to be so attractive to birds, but
curiously in my garden they never touch either, though they are tigers
after the raspberries which have to be caged in netting or we wouldn't
get any.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata,
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
