24 
COMMONSENSE METHODS FOR GROWING GOOD STRAWBERRY CROPS 
Strawberries are grown successfully 
in every State in the Country. They 
are relatively easy to grow. Beginners 
can produce fine crops by following 
common sense methods. 
WHEN DO THEY BEAR? Standard 
varieties set in March, April or early May 
1952 will bear their best crop in May or 
June 1953. Everbearing varieties set in 
early spring produce berries in late sum- 
mer and fall of the same year. Fall setting 
is not a good practice in most cases. 
FALL PLANTING 
Setting plants in late August, September 
or early October with the idea of getting a 
partial crop the following May or June is 
not a good practice. Results in most cases 
do not justify the extra effort. 
Setting plants in late October or Novem- 
ber to get the job done when not so rushed 
by work as in spring or to avoid the hazards 
of delayed planting in spring, due to bad 
weather, frequently is justified. These ad- 
vantages should be weighed against the 
time and trouble of mulching through two 
winters instead of one, and more work in 
controlling weeds and grass. Usually a 
part of the fall set plants fail to survive the 
winter, but those that do survive start 
earlier and grow better than spring set 
plants. 
With good early dug dormant plants 
available for spring planting we think fall 
setting is very rarely justified except in 
Florida. 
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 — FoUow 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 harrow or rake it should be 
leveled off to form a smooth friable plant- 
ing 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 
WHEN SHOULD PLANTS BE SET? 
EARLYI 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 and 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. 
