We picked the first couple ripe strawberries this weekend; these were some very early bloomers that somehow got an early start.  The rest of the field is way behind.  The plants that spent time under row covers over the winter are way ahead of the rest of the field.  One variety has a significant load of berries already formed.  The entire field is blooming heavily now and the bees are having a heydey. 

The first tissue analysis came back from the state with warnings of low magnesium and sulfur and scary comments about low pH conditions or bad plant roots.  Then the lab called on the telephone and said a retest of the same sample showed everything was on target and said to maintain the regular nitrogen fertigations.  I've injected 100 lbs of calcium nitrate so far and will send in another tissue sample mid-week.

Got another good inch of rain, but the tractor was all set up with the water wheel planter as we were in the middle of the spring planting of leafy stuff, the pump was still under the shed back home, and I just wasn't in the mood to get wet, so I skipped the pumping and just enjoyed the rain.