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 
1951 will bear their best crop in May or 
June 1952. 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. 
With fall planting, even if you could get 
plants that would live and start growing 
there would be very few runner plants 
formed in the fall and a very meager crop 
of berries the following spring. In addition, 
you would have the trouble and risk of 
carrying the plants through two winters 
instead of one — with mulching and other 
necessary care — before getting a full crop 
of berries. Control of weeds and grass 
would require much more work with fall 
planting. 
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 — Follow 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 planting 
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 
more valuable if plowed under while still 
green. 
WHEN SHOULD PLANTS BE SET? 
EARLY! 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 or the 
first half of 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. 
