Fruiting Strawberries in Winter— By E. I. F., 



NOT A DIFFICULT PROCEDURE BUT REQUIRING ATTENTION TO DE- 

 TAILS—START NEW PLANTS NOW AND BEAT THE OUTDOOR CROP 



Maisa- 

 chmetU 



THE conventional plan is to layer 

 the first runners made in July 

 in 3-inch pots plunged near the 

 parent plants. In two weeks 

 they are repotted into 4-inch pots and set 

 in a coldframe. When fall comes the 

 plants are shifted to 5-inch and again to 

 6-inch pots. In actual practice and deal- 

 ing with several hundred plants, just as 

 good results have been obtained when 

 strong runners have been dug up late in 

 July or early in August and set directly 

 into 6-inch pots. 



It is convenient to set the pots in 

 coldframe, for they can be cared for 

 to good advantage there. Good gar- 

 den soil, preferably from new land, 

 may be used in the pots and com- 

 mercial fertilizer applied if it seems needed. 

 Very much depends upon the proper 

 watering of the plants until winter comes. 

 Sometimes it is necessary to make an 

 application of water twice a day; enough 

 must be given so that it will penetrate 

 to the roots. 



When cold weather comes, breakage of 

 the pots may be avoided by surrounding 

 them with coal ashes and putting a sash 

 on the frame, but the plants are permitted 

 to freeze. Late in December the first 

 of the plants to be forced may be taken in 

 and thawed. The season is easily extended 

 by starting the plants in batches. A night 

 temperature of 40 to 45 is about right. 

 When the buds come, the temperature is best 

 run up to 65 or 75 at night, but good 

 ventilation is necessary As soon as the 

 plants are brought into the house, it is 

 wise to spray them with copper sulphate, 

 one ounce to eight gallons of water, to 

 kill fungus spores. 



Some growers keep their plants in pots 

 through the forcing season. Others shift 

 them to boxes with an opening in the front, 

 into which the plant is set. The latter 

 plan is excellent for a lean-to house, as the 

 boxes may be placed on 

 shelves arranged in tiers 



against the rear wall, the floor space being 

 left clear for other purposes. With this 

 plan, too, the berries are protected from 

 the dirt and watering is made an easy 

 matter. When pots are used, and this is 

 the more common method, they are placed 

 on tables or raised benches and excelsior, 

 cork chips or a piece of wire screening 

 thrust under the berries to keep them from 

 becoming soiled. 



Hand fertilizing of the flowers is nec- 

 essary. Some growers find it satisfactory 

 to shake the plants sufficiently to scatter 

 the pollen, but as a rule a camel's hair 

 brush is made use of, the pollen being 

 gathered from the stamens and transferred 

 to the pistils. Sometimes any extra pollen 

 is carried along on a wooden paddle. 

 Pollenizing the blossoms must be done 

 every sunny morning. It is very necessary 

 that every pistil in a flower be reached 

 by the pollen, or the berries will grow one- 

 sided. After the fruit has begun to set, 

 ■---. the application of weak 



manure water two or three 

 times a week will be an ad- 



vantage. Commercial growers spend little 

 time, as a rule, in thinning the fruit, but 

 it will pay the amateur to remove the 

 smallest and poorest from any plant that 

 has set more than eight or nine berries. 



In about a month from the time the 

 fruit sets, the berries may be expected to 

 begin ripening and the plants will bear from 

 two to four weeks. With several relays of 

 plants, it is possible to have berries 

 through much of March and April. 

 After they have ceased bearing, 

 the plants may as well be thrown 

 away. 



Apparently the Marshall is the 

 best strawberry for green- 

 house forcing. It yields 

 high grade fruit and 

 stands forcing well. 

 Commercial growers like 

 it because it is a popular 

 variety everywhere. 

 Also, it is perfect flower- 

 ing. Another and some- 

 what later berry which 

 gives good results is the 

 Sharpless. 



A s'rawberry plant 

 covered with ripe berries 

 is a novel and highly attractive 

 table decoration. Two or three 

 potted plants on the table at a 

 social function are certain to 

 arouse much admiration. 



PLANTING A NEW BED OUTDOORS 



During August is also the approved time 

 for the making of a new bed in the garden. 

 Dealers offer "pot plants" at this time 

 which may be set out at once and if given 

 ordinary care will take hold and become 

 well established before cold weather sets in. 

 By this method the plant will be in a posi- 

 tion to start growing vigorously as soon as 

 the season opens and the result is an actual 

 crop of fruit next June from the bed made 

 this season. The gain to the home gar- 

 dener is a very real one, and practically 

 amounts to a year's time; for, if the new 

 bed is not set out till next spring the plants 

 will not be vigorous enough to crop. 



Hand fertilizing. 

 Transferring the pol- 

 len to the pistils by 

 means of a brush is 

 essential when forc- 

 ing strawberries 



The plants for fruiting may be grown in pots or benches, or they may be set into boxes as shown here. This facilitates watering, etc. 



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