Mulching strawberries with straw

[Asif]

Hello Charles

I have a matted strawberry bed now in it’s second season. It was initially prepared on undug, weed free soil with a small layer of compost on top. I haven’t added a top dressing of manure/compost this year.

I’ve heard that it’s good to put a layer of straw underneath the fruit to stop it from rotting. Do you advise against this as it could potentially harbour slugs? If so, do you recommend an alternative course of action to protect the fruit?

Asif

[charles]

Asif, I understand any straw layer as more about keeping fruit clean. Yes I do see it as a slug risk, if slugs are generally a problem in your garden (not otherwise).
Another way of seeing it is that the soil microbes on strawberries lying on soil/compost are good for our gut and digestion. Mostly the surface is dry at fruiting time but in rain one can simply rinse fruit, and always there will be good microbes, without needing straw.

[Asif]

Thanks Charles. I really didn’t see it this way. I think I’ll give the straw a miss.

[Author]

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