This year’s strawberry harvest has been one of the best I have ever experienced.  I have been picking fresh strawberries almost every day, and there is something  satisfying about stepping into the garden and finding ripe, red fruit waiting to be harvested.

One of the things I do every year is  mulching the strawberry beds with straw. The straw helps to keep the fruit clean by preventing it from resting directly on the soil. It also helps the soil retain moisture during dry spells and reduced the number of weeds competing with the plants. This year I did have an issue with grass creeping into the strawberry bed, and I found that the straw mulch helped to suppress it somewhat, making it easier to manage.

While I can’t say for certain that the mulch was responsible for the larger harvest, I know doing that has  several benefits. The berries stayed clean, the soil seemed to hold moisture for longer, and there were fewer weeds and grass competing with the plants, as I mentioned before.

Of course, many factors influence a harvest, including the weather, this month of June we had some sunny days and the strawberries were loving it. Also the age of the plants, and overall growing conditions. However, the straw mulch certainly made caring for the strawberry bed easier, and it’s something I’ll continue using in the future.

There is a noticeable difference between freshly picked strawberries and those that have travelled long distances before reaching the supermarket, that’s for sure!. The freshness and taste are hard to beat. Growing my own food also gives me a sense of knowing exactly how it has been cared for, which is very important to me.

Growing strawberries has reminded me how patient you have to be when gardening. Months ago, the plants were just beginning to put on new growth. And I was just making a new bed to plant them. Now, they are rewarding that care and attention with a generous harvest. It is one of the many reasons why I enjoy growing food at home. Having food right at hand is the best.

This month we have been  enjoying the strawberries in breakfasts, smoothies, and of course, straight from the garden😀

Gardening is always a learning experience, with each growing season I learn something new. For now, I’m simply grateful for the abundance, the daily harvests, and the opportunity to enjoy what we have been working for.

Have you had a good strawberry harvest this year? I’d love to hear about your experiences and any tips you have for growing healthy, productive plants.