Disappointment, Replanting, Promise, and Pests

From Gardening

I suspect the lack of growth on one end of the first raised bed might have to do with a poor blending of our soil mixture more than the fact that it snowed after we planted (that shouldn't matter to seeds!). A lot of the surface seemed to be mainly the peat moss, which of course would be more acidic than we'd want. After pulling the radishes that should have been full grown and were the size of peas, I decided to replant major sections of the first bed.

From Gardening

So anything that was planted mid March and has done little more than grow tiny sprouts got removed. Everything that got replanted got a few scoops of the soil mix we purchased from the delivered bunch, since everything planted in it has thrived. Well, to clarify, I replanted both squares of beets but left one in the old soil mixture, because I wanted proof that the soil was the problem! I also planted a square of carrots to judge how fast they grow, since my original four haven't grown much on top but I'm not sure I want to pull them up and replant yet. I replanted the marigolds (which grew splendidly in the other beds!), Swiss chard (although it might be too late in the season), two squares of gourmet salad greens because the one I had planted is doing well, and two squares of Appalachian greens mix.

From Gardening

The third bed is coming along nicely - a variety of tomatoes have been planted, the cabbages are competing with the peas in the first bed to be the first thing harvested, and I have moved some seedlings (eggplants and peppers) into the ground from their peat pots, after spending a few days hardening them in the outdoors.

The next challenge, besides some things simply not growing, is to figure out how to keep creatures out of the strawberries. The birds keep eating them as they ripen, and I think I can put some netting over them (the tinfoil I tried didn't work). My dog also keeps hopping into the strawberry bed, because he can smell them and sees me bending over and paying attention to the plants. Not much I can do about that.

But I'd love to hear from the common wisdom what the best thing to do to keep birds out of the berries!