How To Grow Everbearers 
In general the same cultural practices that are used in growing good crops of standard varieties apply 
also to growing Everbearers. There is nothing about the job that a beginner cannot do successfully. 
However, so much is expected from Everbearing varieties in such a short time that it is important to use 
the best methods possible in order to obtain the biggest crops of nice berries. 
1. Start with strong plants. A good plant will 
more nearly be ready for the job of fruiting within 
a few weeks than a weak one. One reason why 
Mastodon has had such wide-spread success is be- 
cause the plants usually run large and make a good 
start even if conditions are not always of the best. 
2. Set plants early while both plants and soil 
are in good condition. Strawberries start better 
if the soil is cool and moist and if they have not 
become too much devitalized by a heavy growth of 
leaves and blossoms before setting is done. 
3. Start cultivation soon after the plants them- 
selves start putting out young leaves. This will 
help in making the vigorous plant growth which is 
necessary before fruiting starts. 
4. Blossoms should be cut off at the first hoe- 
ing. Later ones should be cut off as they appear 
until about the middle of July. This enables the 
plant to build up vitality for berry production later 
on when the berries are more salable. It takes 
about one month from blossoms to ripe berries. 
5. The hill system is best. Lack of total pro- 
duction in the fall has been the chief criticism of 
Everbearers. Careful experiments show that re- 
moval of runners not only builds up stronger indi- 
vidual plants, but increases blossoms and fruit pro- 
duction. However, good results are often obtained 
from matted rows unless they have been allowed to 
get very thick and crowded. If a matted row sys- 
tem is used it is recommended that each plant set 
be allowed to make only a few runner plants, say 
from three to six new runners per plant. 
6. Planting distances. In small gardens where 
not much good ground is available, plants should 
be set in the hill system. Even where larger acreages 
are grown many growers are finding the hill system 
best. In this sy c tem plants are set in rows 2 ft. 
apart with the plants twelve to fifteen inches apart 
We recommend marketing Everbearers in pint baskets. The 15- pint 
flat pictured here has proved profitable with us. A 24-pint crate with 
two layers has also proved popular. 
in the row. If a hedge-row or narrow matted row 
is to be used, the rows can be about 3 ft. apart. A 
slightly wider distance is used where a full, wide 
matted row is to be formed. Any distance is satis- 
factory if plants are kept well spaced. 
7. The spring crop and second fall crop. 
Some Everbearing varieties make a much better 
spring bearer than others. Mastodon is one of the 
best. Champion is one of the poorest in this re- 
spect. The second fall crop will be better if plants 
are not allowed to produce the regular spring crop, 
but we do not believe it would be economical to 
remove the spring blossoms. It would be better to 
fertilize heavily and irrigate if possible to produce 
both crops and to make additional plantings for 
more fall berries. 
8. Mulching. Experiments indicate that sum- 
mer mulching increases total yield little or none. 
However, by helping keep down weeds it reduces 
labor and by keeping berries clean and bright it 
increases the value of the fall crop. Mulching can 
be used much more effectively if grown in hills or 
in very thin rows. When used it should be applied 
about June 20th-July 1st, by which time most of 
the new runner plants, if any, will be started. From 
two to three tons of wheat straw, marsh grass, or 
other fine material should be used per acre. See 
page 27. 
9. Fertilizer practices for Everbearing varieties 
are similar to those for standard kinds, but as so 
much more is expected in a shorter time heavier 
and more frequent applications should be used. 
Fertilizer as recommended on page 26 should be 
used at planting time. Great care must be taken to 
see that fertilizer is applied when the foliage is 
thoroughly dry, and that any which lodges on the 
leaves is brushed off at once. 
10. Ample moisture increases size and yield of 
Everbearing strawberries. It also increases the 
efficiency of fertilizer 
applied. It is important, 
therefore, to select land 
naturally springy or well 
filled with organic mat- 
ter. Irrigation would 
help and any method of 
getting the water applied 
would be satisfactory. 
11. Yields of two or 
three quarts per plant 
are sometimes made but 
they are unusual. A yield 
of one quart per plant 
set is quite common but 
far above the average 
which is probably not 
over one half quart per 
each plant set. These 
yields refer to the crop 
produced the first sum- 
mer and fall after the 
plants are set in the 
spring. 
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