Mistakes I've Made (Already)

Almost Fatal Mistake with my Strawberries

I think I've settled on the reason why the strawberry leaves were turning brown through a combination of an elimination process of what it's not (under watering) and additional research.

My thinking is that since the strawberries have been watered quite a lot, by me and then by a huge downpour, it cannot be under watering. I considered overwatering, but then noticed that the leaves were turning dark and brittle. Even thought the plant got very wet in the recent storms, over watering would not create brittle leaves.

Additional research and a new understanding of what I did wrong creating the acid loving plant soil, helped me settle on over fertilizing as my problem. When I started, I did some research on creating the right kind of soil for strawberries which prefer pH of 4.5 to 5.5. Regular potting soil has a pH of about 7ish. I researched what to add, but it seemed like a big mess adding bone and feather meal and such. So, I went to my local garden store where the clerk told me to use Holly-tone. It had ingredients similar to what was suggested to make the soil, but it's really considered a fertilizer and not a soil component. I should have added it sparingly, but I used it in a 1/3 1/3 1/3 formula of potting soil, peat and Holly-tone. Waaaaay too much. I misunderstood the advice I was given.

I rescued the poor plant last night by pulling a lot of the soil out of the little pockets on the planter and from the top and adding regular potting soil. I will probably have to replant the strawberries, but I'm going to wait until the weekend and see how it does. The new growth is looking good.

General Mistakes

Lavender, better late than never

I think I started too early. I started planting seeds in late March, but most everybody cannot go outside until late May. I may have prevented this problem by doing the germination calculations for each seed. However, everything seemed to germinate faster than advertised with the exception of the lavender. Most of the seeds I used were supposed to take 10-14 days to germinate, but several took 3-5 days. The lavender was supposed to take about 9 days to germinate, but took an entire month.

Despite Mistakes, A Lot of  Garden Happiness

Mistakes were made, and still are being made I'm sure, but I'm also pretty happy with some successes.

The Red Sails red lettuce is happy as a clam as are the green beans.

Everything is coming up roses for
red lettuce and green beans

The peas are starting to feel around for the trellis so they can climb.

My friends are starting to ask for basil babies and I'm telling them to come and get them before they become unruly teenagers.

Surplus basil babies up for adoption