Hugelkultur Question

I just finished creating my hugelkultur using a tree we dropped a month ago. Can I plant strawberries on it this season or should I do a cover crop and wait until next year to plant?

Strawberries like a nitrogen boost in the beginning for leaf growth and then phosphorus later for flowers. They like sending their roots about 1ft down since they are perennial and like to establish themselves long term. If the top layer of soil on your hugel bed is amended and about a foot deep, then you can grow strawberries on them. Also, since strawberries are a perennial crop, even if you don't get a stellar crop this year, you can adjust things for better production in the future without necessarily purchasing more plants/seed. In my climate, alpine do awesome in containers and with a health amount of neglect (zone 5-6 with 30 inches precip), so I can imagine them thriving in a hugelbed, if you went that route.

Thanks much for your reply. That answers my question. So excited about my garden this year!

I made my first hugel in a hurry to transplant a pile of strawberries upon (I needed the real estate) and while I continued to get a berry here and there, they struggled the first year. 1.5 later - right now, the frosts JUST passed and the flowers are up.
Seems like theyre doing better and better every month, but I think it was a newbie move on my part to put all them berries in one spot. Definitely spreading the runners to other mounds when I can... Its almost like putting all the delicious bird food in one place *wasn't* a good idea...

Is that your first Hugel? If so, congrats! Good work, and may the winds of patience be at your back

Yes, this is my first Hugelkultur. I took the plunge and planted some strawberry plants today. Gave them a blessing and a good drink of water so we'll see how it goes. This is so exciting, I can't believe I've been gardening for over 40 years and never heard of this. You're never too old to learn something new, that's for sure.