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of EVERBEARERS with 



The New Sawdust Mulch Spaced Plant System 



It has been observed for a long time that everbearing plants which failed to make runners had 

 more sumn\er and fall berries and the hill system for everbearers has been and still is definitely 

 advocated. A variation from this is the spaced plant sawdust mulch system which will greatly increase 

 your satisfaction with everbearers due to the larger yields of bright clean out of season berries. 



The spaced plant sawdust mulch system was first developed in Ohio. We quote below from a report 



published by the Ohio Station. 



This account is condensed from a report in Ohio Farm Journal, Jan. and Feb. 1950 by Dr. Wesley P. 

 Judkins, then with the Ohio Station, now Head of the Department of Horticulture at Blacksburg, Virginia. 



''During the last few years some Ohio growers have been making fine profits from ever- 

 bearing strawberries. Greatest profits have been secured from the Gem variety. During the 

 past year eight everbearing varieties have been tested at the Station. Two of these were 

 superior to Gem and should be considered in future plantings." 



Gem plants which were set out at the Ohio Station in April, 1949, produced 4100 quarts per acre, Super- 

 fection 5630 quarts and Brilliant 7000 quarts. 



''The latest developments in everbearing strawberry production demonstrates that the 

 largest yields, greatest ease and economy of operation and highest profits are to be secured 

 by following a 4-row bed type planting system." (See diagram page 27.) 



The plants are set one foot apart in rows which are one foot apart. A two foot alley or middle is left between 

 each 4-row bed. The 4-row system produces high yields in August, which are maintained during the remainder 

 of the season. 



"The 4-row system can be expected to produce 7000 qts. per acre of Superfection the 

 first year. " 



Under Ohio conditions everbearing strawberries should be planted just as early in the spring as the land 

 can be prepared — late March or early April. The first crop of weeds will usually appear within two or three 

 weeks after planting. These should be controlled by hoeing. After this first hoeing the entire area should be 

 covered with a layer of sawdust one inch thick. This mulch is very important for conserving soil moisture and 

 suppressing weed growth. Later weeds, if any, must be removed by pulling because hoeing would mix the saw- 

 dust with the soil and eliminate its mulch effect. 



All the blossoms which develop on the new set plants should be removed until early July or a week or two 

 later if plant growth has not been quite vigorous. After fruit production starts berries may be harvested about 

 twice each week until frost stops growth in October. The sawdust mulch helps to conserve soil moisture during 

 the late summer. If an extended drought occurs the crop can be greatly increased in size and quality by the 

 use of irrigation. All runners should be removed from the plants as fast as they develop. This is essential if 

 highest yields are to be secured. 



"The sawdust mulch appears to give adequate protection over the winter period. A thin 

 renewal layer may be needed in the fall if the spring application was too light. A full inch 

 of mulch should be maintained." 



The spaced-plant sawdust mulch system comes high per acre, with more plants and much hand labor 

 required, "but numerous Ohio growers have demonstrated in small and medium sized plantings that a carefully 

 managed patch will give high profits." 



"you sure did strawberry growers a good deed when you gave us the Ohio sawdust mulch 

 plan for growing everbearers in the hill. There is no everbearing variety that will grow straw- 

 berries and make runners all at the same time" writes a prominent Indiana grower. 



The Iowa Station has had yields fully equal to anything reported from Ohio and the Kentucky 

 Station with irrigation obtained yields of 13,000 quarts per acre from both Gem and Superfection. 



