I'm even farther inland, but we get a lot of June gloom here as well. I left one Artic Star nectarine on my new tree last year, and it was delicious. Perhaps I'm over enthusiastic, because the fruit ripened on my own trees is so much better than any I've eaten before. I have the tree in a four box with an aprium and two apricots, and plan on adding another four box near it with a SpiceZee nectarplum, a Cot-N-Candy aprium, and two other fruit trees- all now growing in pots on a trial basis. The best tasting this year or next earns box space in the ground.

1. Yes, I don't see why not. 2. As long as you don't disturb the shallow roots, raspberries like compost and should benefit from trench composting.

A bit unclear.. you covered the bare soil between the rows of plants with straw right? Don't cover the new plants, just snug the fresh mulch up close to them. All you have to do now is keep the soil moist and watch them grow. You may be better off putting your leaves and clippings into your compost pile since it will take some time for them to decompose enough to be of any use to the strawberries. The aged horse manure worked into the soil before planting will probably give them enough nourishment for this year.

I don't have the answer for you but I am so jealous of your coral bells!!! I will have some in a trade this spring sometime but I have wanted them for about 3 years now. As for planting I might give it a try. But keep in mind that Thurs. and Fri. are gonna be pretty darn cold at nighttime. March is just so unpredictable it's hard to know for sure what is coming up. Wouldn't want you to lose your plants due to a freeze. I think your hosta's would be OK but that's just a guess. I don't know for sure.