We all have those moments, don’t we? The ones where you step back, look at what you’ve done, and think, “Oh, Elias, what were you thinking?”
Well, I had one of those moments this past week in the garden. It wasn’t a disaster, by any means, but it was definitely a mistake. A learning experience, if you will.
I was so excited to get my new strawberry patch established. The plants looked so healthy, and I was picturing baskets overflowing with juicy red berries by next summer. I’d bought some excellent compost, prepared the soil, and I was ready to plant. In my haste, though, I didn’t dig the holes quite deep enough. I tucked the little strawberry plants in, firming the soil around them, feeling pretty pleased with myself for getting them in the ground so quickly.
Fast forward a few days, and I noticed something wasn’t quite right. The crowns of a couple of the plants seemed to be sitting a bit too high, almost exposed. I remembered reading that strawberry crowns shouldn’t be buried too deep, but also, they shouldn’t be sitting above the soil level like this. I’d clearly gotten it wrong.
It’s a common mistake, and honestly, one I’ve made before with other plants. When you’re eager, it’s easy to rush through those crucial preparation steps. For strawberries, the crown – where the leaves emerge – needs to be right at soil level. Too deep, and it can rot. Too high, and it can dry out.
So, what did I do? I gently dug around the affected plants, loosened the soil, and carefully adjusted them so their crowns were perfectly nestled at the soil’s surface. It took a little extra time, but it was much better than risking losing the plants.
This little gardening oopsie is a good reminder for all of us. Gardening is a constant process of learning and adjusting. We try new things, we experiment, and sometimes, we get it wrong. The key isn’t to avoid mistakes – that’s nearly impossible! – but to learn from them.
What’s your most memorable gardening mishap? Did you have a plant that didn’t make it because of something you did? Or perhaps you had a similar experience and figured out a clever fix? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Sharing our