Chandler...Bigger and Better

My Sequoia strawberry patch was three years old when I decided to pull the plants and try another variety. Last autumn, I enriched the soil with compost and worm castings and planted 24 Chandler strawberries, which I purchased at Bob Williams Nursery. A few bloomed and bore fruit before the cold weather set in, but last month started flowering and setting berries. The bed is covered with netting to discourage the mocking birds, who seem to love the berries.

I think they are easier to maintain ( runners have already started new plants ) easier to pick, since they bear LARGE fruit ( just a few fill a cereal bowl )and are almost as tasty as the Sequoia. I am picking them every other day, now, plenty to put on your morning cereal with enough left over for strawberry shortcake!

I maintain the bed during summer, covered with shade cloth, with no change in the watering schedule.