COMMOIMSEIMSE METHODS 
FOR GROWING STRAWBERRIES 
STRAWBERRIES are grown successfully 
in every state. They are easy to grow 
and beginners are proud of their fine 
berries. 
BEARING. Standard varieties set in the 
spring of 1969 will bear their best crops 
in May or June of 1970. Everbearing 
varieties set in the spring produce berries 
in late summer and fall of the same year. 
PLANTING. Early spring planting is of 
the greatest importance in growing straw- 
berries. This means just as early in the 
spring as the weather permits you to get 
the ground ready and the plants set. The 
plants may become established while the 
soil is still cool and moist and a good 
stand with resultant growth becomes the 
rule. With dormant plants and irrigation, 
later setting is possible but it is not as 
easy. Planting time is usually February, 
March and early April in the southern 
states; March and April in the middle 
states; April and May in the northern 
states. 
LATE FALL PLANTING with the idea of 
getting a partial crop the following May 
or June is not generally a good practice. 
Results in most cases do not justify the 
extra effort, even though the job may be 
done when not so rushed and the hazard 
of bad weather in the spring delaying 
22 
planting is avoided. It must be remem- 
bered that you have the trouble of mulch- 
ing through an extra winter and more 
work in controlling weeds and grass. 
Of course, if the plants survive the win- 
ter successfully, they do start earlier and 
grow better than spring set plants but 
dormant plants largely offset this advan- 
tage. 
PLANTING DISTANCES. In general we 
recommend setting plants 18 to 20 inches 
apart in rows 4 feet apart. This requires 
a little over 7,000 plants per acre. (See 
table) Somewhat closer planting is satis- 
factory in small gardens where space is 
limited, for the hill system as with ever- 
bearers, or for late setting where a good 
stand is uncertain. Closer setting is sug- 
gested also for varieties that make few 
plants and for varieties which are not 
virus free. 
For the small garden order 7 plants 
for each 10 feet of row you want to set 
or figure 1 plant for each 5 square feet. 
Thus for a plot 10 by 10 you would need 
about 20 plants. 
High yields can be had from small 
plots by using the hill system where 
all runners are cut off. There are 
many variations of the hill system. 
One of the most practical is to use a 
