Growing Strawberries 



strawberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow. Good plants set at the proper season 

 in good soil will respond with ordinarj^ care and cultivation. There is nothing complicated 

 about growing strawberries, and by following these easy instructions the beginner can be sure 

 of good results. Rayner's certified stock is further assurance of success. 



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 is 

 fairly well drained. Like other fruit, strawberries 

 will not produce a good crop in a shady location. 



Soil and fertilizer: A good soil for strawberries 

 is one that is slightly acid, in good condition, and 

 reasonably free of weed seed. Newly plowed pas- 

 ture land or sod often gives poor results but re- 

 cently cleared woodland is excellent. If good soil 

 is properly prepared it can be successfully replant- 

 ed to straAvberries a year after an old planting was 

 plowed up. Important reciuirements for straw- 

 berries are high organic matter and high fertility. 

 Well rotted barnyard manure is one of the best 

 materials for good strawberry growth but other 

 organic matter is very helpful. Well rotted poul- 

 try manure can be used but may cause plant in- 

 jury and also increases the weed problem. It is 

 usually best to apply from 1.000 to 1,500 lbs. per 

 acre of a lO-G-4 or 8-8-8 fertilizer. Urea-type fer- 

 tilizers are also excellent since strawberries have a 

 high nitrogen requirement. Plow under about 1/8 

 of the total fertilizer 2 or 3 Aveeks before planting 

 and apply the rest as side or top dressings during 

 the growing season. An application in late August 

 or early September is very imi)ortant since this is 

 the time fruit buds are developed for the next crop. 

 In general it is best not to apply much fertilizer to 

 strawberry beds in early si)ring. This may cause 

 excess vine growth and decreased fruit production. 



Wlien to plant: Early spring is the best time in 

 most sections but in areas of the north it is some- 

 times best to Avait until May or even early .Tune 

 Avhen the soil is in better condition. With Ray- 

 ner's dormant jilants tliere is a definite trend to- 

 Avard summer planting and with irrigation this is 

 often very successful. HoAvever in cold climates 

 Ave do not recommend planting after the middle of 

 .July. Plants set in late summer or fall are often 

 injured or killed by cold Aveather. 



How to plant: It is important not to set the plant 

 too deep or too shalloAv. Do not clip the roots but 

 spread them out full length and press dirt around 

 the plant so that the roots are firmly anchored in 

 the soil. For best results aa'c recommend use of a 

 soluble fertilizer as a transplanting solution. About 

 a pint of 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 Avitht 4 ft. be- 

 tAveen roAvs. Slightly narroAA' fruiting beds will 

 usually have better yields and higher quality than 

 beds that are unusually thick. 



Care of the plants: A few Aveeks after straw- 

 berries are planted they will produce blossoms. 

 For the regular matted-roAV system it is best to 

 remove these blooms since the plants will make 

 better groAvth. Hoeing and cultivation are neces- 

 sary practices for weed control but much benefit 

 can be obtained by use of a good Aveed-killer. We 

 recommend Sesone (Crag 1 Herbicide). Other her- 

 l)icides such as Chloro I.P.C. and Sinox are also 

 used to control Aveeds in straAvberries. Consult 

 your state agricultural authorities for recommen- 

 dations. We use geese in our fields for Aveed con- 

 trol : about tAvo or three per acre Avill do a good 

 job on young grass and Aveeds. 



In northern states it is important to mulch 

 StraAvberries for prevention of Avinter injury. 

 StraAv. hay or marsh grass are the best materials 

 but Avood shavings, pine needles, leaves, shredded 

 corn stalks, etc. can be used. The important point 

 to rememlier is that the material must not pack 

 lightly since it could smother the plants. It should 

 be applied in the fall Avhen the temperature first 

 reaches 20-F and used so as to cover the plants to 

 a depth of three to four inches. About three to six 

 tons of hay or straAv i)er acre is needed. As soon 

 as new straAvberry leaves begin to groAA' in the 



Plants Required Per Acre 



Plants required per acre at various plantinj 

 distances : 



Rows 



Distance in Roav 



Plants per Acre 



31/2 feet apart 



18 inches 



8.325 



SV2 feet apart 



24 inches 



0,225 



3y- feet apart 



30 inches 



5,000 



4 feet apart 



15 inches 



8,750 



4 feet apart 



18 inches 



7.300 



4 feet apart 



24 inches 



5.425 



4 feet apart 



30 inches 



4,375 



,«*!^^&* 



spring the mulch should be removed so that only 

 about an inch remains. The rest should be kept 

 between the beds Avhere it aauII help keep the ber- 

 ries clean and free of rot. Even in the south many 

 berries are mulched to help keep them free of dirt 

 and decay. 



Frost damage to straAvberries can be greatly re- 

 duced by spreading the mulch over the beds or by 

 use of overhead irrigation. If one tenth inch of 

 Avater is applied each hour the temperature is beloAV 

 32 'F the blossoms Avill not be damaged. 



Control of Diseases and Insects: For prevention 

 of damage from grubs. AvireAvorms, root aphids and 

 other soil insects Ave recommend 10 lbs. of actual 

 chlordane per acre. We use it on all our fields and 

 find that it does a wonderful job. Spittle-bugs may 

 make a slimv froth on stems and leaves of straAv- 

 berries : thcA' can be controlled by Malathion and 

 other insecticides. Sometimes berry rot can be 

 quite a problem in straAvberries. It can be con- 

 trolled Avitht Captan fungicide and proper cultural 

 practices that prevent excessive vine growth. 



If the red stele root disease is a problem it can 

 be controlled by using some of the resistant va- 

 rieties Ave offer. Sometimes a root disease knoAvn 

 as Verticillium Avilt Avill attack straAvberries that 

 are groAvn in land previously planted to potatoes or 

 tomatoes. Vermilion. Catskill. Surecrop and Prem- 

 ier are fairly resistant to this trouble. 



For further information concerning straAvberry 

 production write to your state agricultural exi)eri- 

 mcnt station. Or for 15 cents you can obtain Far- 

 mers' Bulletin # 1208 entitled "Strawberry Culture- 

 Eastern United States." Send to Superintendent of 

 Documents, U.S. GoA-t. Printing OflSce. Washington 

 25. D. C. 



IS 



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