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Growing Strawberries | 
Strawberries are one of the easiest crops to grow. 
season in good soil will thrive with ordinary care and cultivation. 
plicated about growing strawberries, and by following these easy instructions the beginner § 
Rayner’s registered virus-free stock is further assurance of success. § | 
can be sure of good results. 
Where strawberries can be grown: In every 
state of the Union strawberries are grown at least 
to some extent. They are quite hardy and will 
give good results in any reasonably fertile soil 
that has good moisture. Like other fruit, straw- 
berries require almost full sunlight for good fruit 
production. 
Soil: A good soil for strawberries is one that is 
slightly acid, in good condition, and reasonably 
free of weed seed. Newly plowed pasture or sod 
may give poor results, but recently cleared wood- 
land is excellent. All good garden soils will pro- 
duce strawberries successfully. 
Fertilizer: Important requirements for straw- 
berries are high organic matter and high fertility. 
Before planting, plow down well-rotted barnyard 
manure, which is one of the best materials for good 
strawberry growth. If this is not available, other 
organic material is helpful. If you wish to use a 
commercial fertilizer, plow down 500 pounds to 
the acre of a complete fertilizer (8-8-8 or 10-10-10). 
This is equal to about 114 pounds per 100 sq. ft. If 
the soil contains a good supply of manure and is ina 
very high state of fertility, this is not necessary. 
Use of a good soluble fertilizer at time of plant- 
ing is reeommended. It will not burn the plants 
and can safely be used at any time during the 
growing season. 
In poor soils an application of cottonseed meal 
or a complete commercial fertilizer may be neces- 
sary 4 to 6 weeks after planting. 
Strawberries have a high requirement for nitro- 
gen, but it must be applied at the proper time or 
else very adverse effects may result. Fruit buds, 
which determine the spring crop, are developed in 
the plant during August and September. There- 
fore, this is the most important time to apply fer- 
tilizer. Most successful growers apply about 500 
lbs. per acre of a 10-6-4, 8-8-8, or similar fertilizer 
at this time. This is equal to about 1 lb. per 80 sq. 
ft. of strawberry bed. The fertilizer should be 
spread directly on the plants when dry and then 
brushed off the leaves. If applied when the leaves 
are wet, injury may result. 
An excellent organic plant food for strawberries 
and nearly all other plants is cottonseed meal. It 
is obtained entirely from ground cottonseed and 
is thus entirely organic in nature. Usually it con- 
tains about 6% nitrogen, 3% phosphoric acid, and 
2% potash plus other important elements. Thus, 
cottonseed meal is a perfect plant food for those 
who follow the highly commendable practices of 
organic gardening. It is usually used at the rate of 
4 lbs. per 25 ft. of strawberry row and will cause 
no injury or damage to the plants. 
In general, it is best not to apply fertilizer dur- 
ing the spring on fruiting beds. This can cause 
excess plant growth, reduced fruit production, and 
Good plants set out at the proper 
There is nothing com- 
poorer quality. We believe this is one of the most} 
common causes of poor strawberry yields and rec- || 
ommend that fruiting beds should not be fertilized | 
in the spring. 
When to plant: Early spring is usually the best 
time to plant strawberries. In northern states it i is 
best to wait until May or even June when the soil | 
is in good condition. Frost or snow will not harm 
With Rayner’s dor- 
mant plants, there is a definite trend to summer 
This gives a 
newly planted strawberries. 
planting where trrigation is available. 
less crowded plant bed which yields unusually | 
heavy crops of very large berries. In cold climates 
we do not recommend planting after mid-July. Fall 
plantings are sometimes successful but are often 
damaged or completely destroyed by winter injury. 
How to plant: 
plant too deep or too shallow—see photo below. 
Do not clip the roots but spread them out full. 
length and press soil around the plant so that the | 
roots are firmly anchored in the soil. About a pint | 
of water or soluble fertilizer solution should be' 
poured around each plant when it is put in the hole. | 
A good planting distance is 2 ft. apart in the row, | 
with 4 ft. between rows. Slightly narrow fruiting | 
beds will usually have better yields and higher 
quality than beds that are unusually thick. There 
are usually two extra plants per bunch, so set the ex- 
tras at arow end and use if replacements are needed. 
4 nb : apart 
4 fh. apart 
4 ft. apart 
Just Right 
Too Shallow 
+ ALL RAYNER’S STRAWBERRY PLANTS ARE VIRUS-FREE 
It is important not to set the 
