LivinLightly Permaculture solutions for sustainable living

Today I picked over  1 kg of raspberries from the 10 m row. I have been harvesting them for over a week now but most days I have only managed about 600 g. In previous years, when I have not been selling them, I have often missed a day's picking and the harvest has only lasted 2 or 3 weeks. This year I shall pick every day and see if this elongates the season.

My strawberry crop has been the best I have ever had this year - due to the much greater number of plants I have now and the frequent rain, I think. I pick a small bowl every day. However, I am still very disappointed in how many I am getting. Many have rotted in the rain, or been eaten by slaters this year. I remember my Mum growing strawberries in Guernsey when I was a child and she produced huge bowls full every day. I'm not sure what I am doing wrong. They have lots and lots of huge leafy growth but few strawberries and they do not last - I have to eat them within hours of picking or they go soft and mushy. Maybe they they have too many nutrients. Maybe I need to remove all the suckers that have recently appeared.