26 



COMMONSENSE METHODS FOR GROWING 

 GOOD STRAWBERRY CROPS 



Strawberries are grown successfully in 

 every State in the Country. They are rela- 

 tively easy to grow. Beginners can produce 

 fine crops by following common sense 

 methods. 



WHEN DO THEY BEAR? Standard varie- 

 ties set in March, April or early May 1948 

 will bear their best crop in May or June 

 1949. Everbearing varieties set in early 

 spring produce berries in late summer and 

 fall of the same year. Fall setting is not a 

 good practice in most cases. 



With fall planting, even if you could get 

 plants that would live and start growing, 

 there would be very few runner plants 

 formed in the fall and a very meager crop 

 of berries the following spring. In addi- 

 tion, you would have the trouble and risk 

 of carrying the plants through two winters 

 instead of one — with mulching and other 

 necessary care — before getting a full crop 

 of berries. 



WHAT KIND OF SOIL AND LOCATION 

 ARE BEST? 



Any soil that makes good yields of gar- 

 den or field crops will produce strawberries 

 in abundance, whether that soil is a light 

 sandy loam or a heavy clay. Here are some 

 pointers. 1 — In rolling country a sloping 

 field gives better air drainage and less in- 

 jurious frosts. 2 — Run the berry rows across 

 a steeply sloping field rather than up and 

 down to help prevent erosion. 3 — Follow 



a hoed crop to make less weeds and grass 

 to contend with in the strawberries. 4 — 

 Avoid sod land that may harbor grub worms 

 which cut or injure your plants. 5— Change 

 the place of the strawberry bed every few 

 years. It will help keep up the vigor and 

 growth and reduce the danger of a build up 

 of disease and insect trouble* 6 — A rank 

 growth of weeds and grass on a vacant lot, 

 garden plot or unused field indicates soil 

 fertile enough to grow good crops of straw- 

 berries. 7 — Most important of all, select 

 land that holds moisture well because (a) 

 it is naturally springy (b) it has a high water 

 table (c) irrigation is available or (d) be- 

 cause lots of organic matter in the form of 

 animal manures or green crops has been 

 incorporated in the soil. 



HOW SHOULD I PREPARE THE LAND? 

 In late winter or very early spring the land 

 should be plowed or (in small plots) spaded 

 to a depth of 6 or 8 inches. Then with har- 

 row or rake it should be leveled off to form 

 a smooth friable planting bed. 



Here are some things which are not 

 necessary — but which are very helpful in 

 getting bigger, better crops of berries: 



1. Plowing under in late summer a heavy 

 growth of green crops such as peas, beans, 

 clover, sowed corn, weeds, grass, etc. All 

 these rot quickly and are much more valu- 

 able if plowed under while still green. 



2. Early fall sowing of rye or wheat to 



WHEN SHOULD PLANTS BE SET? 



EARLY! EARLY! EARLY! 



The most important single thing in growing strawberries successfully 

 is to set the plants EARLY. With no other crop that you grow is early spring 

 setting so ALL IMPORTANT. 



In the Southern States this means February, March and early April. 

 In the Middle States, March and April. In the Northern States April or the 

 first half of May in late seasons and in states far North. In all states it 

 means just as early as the weather permits you to get the ground ready 



and the plants set. 



A good stand and growth are easy if plants are set early so they 



can become established while the soil is still cool and 



moist. With late setting good results are very unlikely 



unless soil and moisture conditions are entirely 



favorable. 



