strawberries and grapes

[lyne]

hi,

i live in southeast missouri and would like to grow a small patch of strawberries and grapes. could some one tell me the best and easiest strawberries to grow. also on the grapes i want just enough for snacking and some jelly not a vineyard full but know nothing about them. how many plants do i need for 4 people? do they need full sun or half and half? what about amount of water? what type would be the best to grow? thanks lyne

[proverbs31girl]

I grow both and don't find either hard to grow at all. Call your local extension agent and they will give you some recommendations for your area. Most fruits require full sun, and water when dry. As for strawberries, you need to decide if you want everbearing or June bearing, everbearing give you a longer season and June bearing give you a large crop within a few weeks. Both are great addtions to your garden area.

[bookwormom]

proverbs said it all.

I personally grow surecrop and Ozark Beauty strawberries. husband planted oodles of grapes, only the ones that I planted by the house and trained on a trellis amounted to anything. The two years of drought has had an effect on them.

[side_job]

hi,

i live in southeast missouri and would like to grow a small patch of strawberries and grapes. *could some one tell me the best and easiest strawberries to grow. *also on the grapes i want just enough for snacking and some jelly not a vineyard full but know nothing about them. *how many plants do i need for 4 people? *do they need full sun or half and half? *what about amount of water? *what type would be the best to grow? *thanks lyne

I have often wondered the same thing about the strawberrys. Have tried a couple seasons, but none the less, I always seem to have to stop by Beggs at Benton and buy them... good luck!~

[kawalekm]

Grapes in general need full sun the whole day. I bought mine from this nursery.
http://www.burntridgenursery.com/fruitingPlants/index_product.asp?dept=27&parent=23
One thing I would recommend is that you buy only one grapevine each from several different varieties. After you have grown them for one season you prune them back and you can plant the cuttings. Cut the trimmings into 12-15 pieces, dip the end in rooting hormone, then plant the cutting back in the ground.

I would suggest you select varieties that produce at different parts of the season. That way you have a continuous supply of grapes over the whole summer. If you planted your cuttings (you can put them in pots or in lengths of drain pipe) by the time you find out which varieties work best for your location, you will have amplified the plants 5-10 fold. I think you'll need that many to supply a whole family.

Same with the strawberries. Since they tiller, once you know which variety likes your area best, you can propagate them that way.
Michael