Finding a P-Patch to garden in

Q: How do you get a P-Patch in this city? I've looked around a couple in my neighborhood (Capitol Hill) and can't find information on how to sign up.

A: While the city of Seattle is justifiably proud of its 2,500 P-Patch plots serving 6,000 urban gardeners on 23 acres of land, there still aren't enough to go around. The allotments in city neighborhoods like Queen Anne and Capitol Hill usually have waiting lists; to sign up go to www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/ or call the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods at 206-684-0464.

Depending on your location on Capitol Hill, the Thomas Street Gardens (1010 Thomas St.) or the newly developed Spring Street P-Patch at 25th Avenue and East Spring Street are probably the closest to you. Or you might consider signing up for one of the larger gardens, like the bustling ones at Interbay or Bradner Gardens. See the Web site above for a complete list and description of possibilities.

Q: My everbearing strawberries didn't do much this year, after producing lots of berries last year. How can I jolt these plants into making more fruit?

A: Strawberries need plenty of water and fertilizer, and they appreciate a mulch in spring and fall. They also require excellent drainage and full sun. Everbearing strawberries produce fruit over such a long season that they need to be fed with diluted fish fertilizer every week. It's also possible that birds or other wildlife have been feasting on your berries; if so, cover them with netting. But no matter how well you care for them, strawberries sometimes seem to just fade away. If yours are looking sad or sickly, yank them out and plant new strawberry plants next spring for a fresh crop of fruit.

Q: We're putting in a new patio, and our landscaper strongly recommends bluestone. My husband is balking at the expense of real stone, and I admit I like concrete pavers. We have a little city garden, and the patio will hold pots and a dining table and chairs. Do you think stone is worth the price? What do you think of using concrete pavers instead?

A: Pavers and stone give quite a different look to gardens, as do different kinds of stone and varying sizes, textures and color of pavers. I'd suggest you go to a big stone yard, such as Marenakos Rock Center (30250 S.E. High Point Way, Issaquah; 425-392-3313), to check out all the possibilities. Stone can look casual and rustic or elegantly modern, or any look in between, depending on what color, pattern and thickness you choose.

I particularly like dark concrete pavers for small city gardens, for they give a clean, finished surface quite inexpensively. Even with pavers, there are a variety of choices and ways to lay them that make a big difference in the final look.

Plain concrete pavers can be alternated with mosaic pavers or laid on a diagonal, or you can create a few of your own pavers with mementos embedded in them to add to the mix. Check out some landscaping books from your local library, or peruse the collection at the Miller Horticultural Library (3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle; 206-543-0415) to get ideas on what you like and what would best suit your garden.

Valerie Easton also writes about Plant Life in Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine. Write to her at P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111 or e-mail planttalk@seattletimes.com with your questions. Sorry, no personal replies.