I've been growing strawberries in containers for a while now, but I'm emptying out my first container because the plants have finally died after about five years. The container is long and shallow, holding a lot of soil that I'm unsure how to repurpose. Given that strawberries are allelopathic, I want to make sure I'm handling the soil correctly. I can't do hot composting and don't want to just dump it somewhere since I'm trying to support local wildlife. Any suggestions on how to repurpose this soil?
3 Answers
How much soil are we talking about? If it helps, you might be sitting on about two 5-gallon buckets worth when packed down. That’s a decent amount to find a good spot for it or mix into another garden area.
From what I understand, the allelopathic effects of strawberries fade once the plants are gone, so you're probably safe here. You could just spread the soil in your existing garden beds or the field you're working on. It shouldn't harm anything.
Composting is a good option, and don’t worry about it being hot compost. It can help break down any remnants of the plants. I've had success growing strawberries with other plants too, so I wouldn't stress too much about the allelopathic concerns. It’s often overstated!
Yeah, I think that's about right! Just trying to figure out the best use for it.