ALLEN'S BOOK OF BERRIES— 1924 



How to Grow Strawberries 



Strawberries will thrive in a wide variety of soils and climates. They are grown 

 successfully from Cuba ro Canada and from Maine to California. They will grow in 

 any type of soil that is not dry sand or waterlogged clay. They will often give good 

 crops in soils that have had poor preparation. But, like other crops, they respond quickly 

 to good cultivation. 



One of the first essentials in producing a good crop of berries is plenty of moisture. 

 Springy land that is well drained is therefore the best type of soil. A good garden 

 soil that is full of organic matter will almost invariably produce a fine crop of berries. 

 On other types water may be conserved by cultivation or mulching, and generally 

 there may be enough natural rainfall at fruiting time. Any soil that will grow good 

 garden or field crops will grow strawberries. 



Preparing the land. Potatoes, beans, tomatoes, cabbage and other truck crops 

 usually leave the ground in excellent shape for strawberries. This is because they are 

 kept well cultivated and free from weeds for a good part of the season and are usually 

 well manured and fertilized. We have noticed that strawberries do well following cow 

 peas or soy beans. If you can plant rye or some other winter covering it will keep the 

 soil from leaching and afford humus to turn under in spring. Not much top growth 

 from rye though as the ground should be prepared and plants set as early in spring as 

 weather permits. Mowing down a heavy growth of weeds (before they go to seed), 

 or cowpeas or soy beans, or almost any crop will protect the ground during the winter 

 and leave it nice and mellow for spring planting. The soil should be constantly enriched 

 by turning under green crops, legumes preferred. Avoid if possible, sod land, as the 

 white grubs winter over in such lands and cut off the young plants when set the fol- 

 lowing spring. If you have no other land available, plow the land in the fall, harrowing 

 it as often as you can, and many of the white grubs will be killed out. 



Having selected your piece of land, cover it with fine stable manure if available. 

 Fall spreading is preferable but early spring is fairly satisfactory. Cut this into the 

 land with a disc harrow if available. In early spring plow the land, harrow it thoroughly, 

 mark off your rows, and you are ready for the plants. 



Time to plant — Important. In the extreme South stock plants, free from nema- 

 tode and rust, should be planted in February, March or early April. In the Middle 

 States, March and April are the best planting months. In the North — April. Plant 

 in early spring, just as soon as you can get your ground in condition. This gives plants 

 as long a growing season as possible, and the plants are set and growing before hot, 

 dry weather comes on. Be sure to have your plants on hand when you are ready for 

 them. Have your plants shipped early and heel them in some protected place and 

 cover with straw until you can plant. 



We cannot emphasize too strongly the importance of planting early. In this 

 section the last two weeks in March are the ideal planting days. We cannot get our 

 entire plantings out during those two weeks, but the ones we do get out then always 

 start quicker, grow better and make better beds than those planted later unless con- 

 ditions are very favorable. 



Early Planting will pay big. We know this because with our large planting 

 we cannot get them all set at the ideal time. Often an advantage of ten days to two 

 weeks in time of planting will more than offset the benefits of a good dressing of fer- 

 tilizer on later plantings. This is not theory. It has happened in our experience a 

 number of times. It was true this year. When a plant grower in the latitude of New 

 York or Massachusetts can dig plants, berry growers in those sections should be setting 

 their plants. This is a big advantage we can give growers in those latitudes. We can 

 dig and ship plants earlier and have them right at hand for early planting. 



Early Spring is the logical, natural, most successful and satisfac- 

 tory time to set Strawberry plants. So don't neglect setting some 

 plants this Spring, thinking you can make it up by early Fall planting. 

 It can't be done. 



Setting the Plants. Just before planting, the ground should be harrowed and 

 made as level as possible. Then mark out the rows and you are ready to plant. There 

 are a number of different methods of planting, but an ordinary garden trowel or a 

 fiat dibble are the best tools to use. Whatever tool is used try to have the roots of the 



