In a post from a couple of years ago, I had written about growing strawberries in a flower box on the balcony.
The strawberries, purchased five years ago, were initially meant for my daughter to observe their growth and learn that edible things do not only come from the supermarket.
I expected the plants to die after the first winter. But lo and behold, they survived a rather cold winter, unprotected in a flower box.
Now in their sixth year, they have decided to have off-spring.
Strawberry runners growing on the balcony
The newly-received runners are ready to be detached and planted now.
Strawberry runners with roots and crown
My brother, interested in organic fruit, already placed his first order for the young batch. Another reason which prompted me to write about this was the following article:
... six months ago, a dangerous ingredient got added to the production chain for this previously nutritious and delicious snack: Methyl iodide. Methyl iodide is a cancer-causing chemical that is linked to thyroid toxicity, and miscarriages. [1] This dangerous chemical was recently approved for use in California agriculture. That’s terrible news nationwide because California produces 80% of the nation’s strawberries.[2]
It’s time to take methyl iodide out of California’s farms and out of our strawberries before any more of this dangerous chemical is used.
*Tell the California Governor that we want safer strawberries for our families! http://action.momsrising.org/
You can raise your own strawberries even if you don’t have a garden. A sunny spot and a balcony planter are sufficient.
Edit: For more information and a comprehensive guide on how to grow strawberries, their nutritional value, varieties, recipes, etc., then visit:
https://www.igardenplanting.com/complete-guide-how-to-grow-strawberries/
myum yum yum yum yum!! 😀
Your fears about methyl iodide are unfounded. Methyl iodide is necessary to grow strawberry nursery starts–which California does by the millions–about 95% of the entire world’s supply. If you are eating strawberries from your strawberry plants in this story, they probably started in a California nursery. Why is it needed? Without it, harmful soil pests called nematodes (microscopic worms) infest the plants, causing the roots to knot and stunting the plants. To avoid this problem and to keep from spreading the nematodes around, most countries–Deutchland, included– require that the soil the plants are grown in be treated to kill the nematodes. For years, a product similar to methyl iodide was used for this purpose, methyl bromide. Then it was discovered that it caused damage to the world’s ozone layer. By international treaty, it was phased out. Methyl iodide is chemically similar, but doesn’t damage the ozone layer. That’s the whole story.
By the way, no commercial application of methyl iodide has occurred in California in soils that will be used to grow strawberries.