CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 



STRAWBERRIES are grown successfully in every state. They are easy to grow and even 

 beginners can be proud to share their berries with their friends. In addition to growing straw- 

 berries for the wholesale fruit market, processing industry and home gardens; production for 

 the retail farm market, and "Pick-Your-Own" type of sales has become very popular and 

 profitable. It is not uncommon for producers near metropolitan areas to net $1,500 per acre 

 from "Pick-Your-Own" strawberries. 



BEARING: Standard varieties set in the Spring of 1975 will bear their best crop in May 

 or June of 1976. If the plants are well cared for; grown on a good, well-drained loam soil 

 and plant spacing kept to about 6 inches per plant, they will produce good crops of fruit 

 for 2 or 3 additional years. Everbearing varieties set in the spring produce berries in late 

 summer and fall of that year. 



SOIL, LOCATION AND PREPLANT SOIL under prior to planting strawberries. If the 



AMENDMENTS: Any soil will produce a soil pH is not 60 or above and phosphorous 



fair crop of strawberries provided certain medium, you should consult your University 



practices are observed and the site is not or County Extension Agent for recommenda- 



completely shaded by surrounding trees. tions. 



1) Well-drained loams clay loams, and sandy ^anD PREPARATION: In late winter or 



loams, however, are the best. 



very early spring, the land should be plowed. 



2) If the site IS located on a hillside or ^^ -^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^ ^ 

 rolling land, the rows should run across the ^^p^^ of 6 to 8 inches. It should be worked 

 slope. Rolling land provides better air drain- j^^^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^j^^l^ condition immediately 

 age and, therefore less frost problems and p^j^^ ^^ planting. The following suggestions 

 also better water drainage. ^^^ ^^^ requirements, but they will improve 



3) If a well-drained site is not available, the ^^e size of your strawberry crop, as well as, 

 home gardener can build a pyramid or barrel ^^^ quality of the fruit 



planter (write for instructions). , ) S^^ ^ g^^^n ^^^ure crop of peas, soy- 

 ,4) If frost is a problem, strawberries can be ^eans, sowed corn, sudan grass etc. the sum- 

 covered on frosty nights with newspaper or ^.^r before planting the strawberries. In the 



P^^^^^^- fall, disk the green manure crop prior to 

 5) Sites that have such perennial weeds as 



Johnson grass, quack grass, nut grass, Ber- 

 muda grass or wire grass should be avoided. 

 Chemical herbicides can be used to eradicate 

 these pests but this should be done at least 

 two years prior to planting strawberries. Con- 



plowing it under. This blends the organic 

 matter into the soil and avoids problems 

 created by a dense vegetation layer at the 

 bottom of the plow furrow. 

 2) If soil erosion is a problem, a winter cover 

 crop of rye or winter oats should be planted 



suit your County Extension Agent for ma- j^ ^arly September. This should be disked 



terials and rates. • ^^j^^^ plowed as described above, in early spring 



6) Strawberries grow very well following blue- (February, March, April— Depending on geo- 

 grass sod; however, grubs are a serious prob- graphic location). 



lem. If pesticides are not used to control the 3^ j^ ^^^^^ ^^^ sj^eep poultrv or hog 

 grubs, a cultivated crop should be grown for manure is available, it can be used as a re- 

 one year after plowing up the sod and before placement for the green manure crop. Rates 

 planting the strawberries. of 5 ^^ 20 tons per acre can be applied with 



7) If possible, change planting sites every hog, sheep and poultry manure being applied 

 few years as disease and insects build up in ^t the lower rate and horse and cow manure 

 the soil, when growing the same crop for ^t the higher rate. Stable manure should be 

 several years. Sunrise, Surecrop, Redchief, applied in the fall prior to planting the straw- 

 Guardian, Catskill or Delite should be berries and disked and plowed in the same 

 planted if tomatoes, peppers, egg plants or manner as that described for green manure. 

 Irish potatoes have been grown on the site ^ g^^^ g^ide for garden plots is to apply 



the previous year. 



8) Applying stable manure or growing a 

 cover crop the year prior to planting straw- 

 berries will improve production. 



9) Soil tests are beneficial and should be 

 taken the year before planting strawberries if 

 possible. If the tests indicate that lime and 



2 bushels of manure for every 100 square 

 feet. 



PLANTING DISTANCES: This is determined 

 by variety, type of cultivating equipment avail- 

 able and cultural system used. (i.e. matted 

 row or hill system). Varieties such as Sure- 



phosphorous are needed, it should be plowed crop, Blakemore, Robinson and Delite which 



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