Commonsense Methods for Growing 
Good Strawberry Crops 
Strawberries are grown successfully in 
every State in the Country. They are rela- 
tively easy to grow. Beginners can pro- 
duce fine crops by following common 
sense methods. 
WHEN DO THEY BEAR? Standard va- 
rieties set in March, April or early May 
1956 will bear their best crop in May or 
June 1957. 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. 
FALL PLANTING 
Setting plants in late August, Septem- 
ber or early October with the idea of get- 
ting a partial crop the following May or 
June is not a good practice. Results in 
most eases do not justify the extra effort, 
even if good plants were available, which 
they usually are not. 
Setting the plants in late @eicber or No- 
vember to get the job done when not so 
rushed by work as in spring or to avoid 
the hazards of delayed planting in spring, 
due to bad weather, frequently is justi- 
fied. These advantages should be weighed 
against the time and trouble of mulching 
through two winters instead of one, and 
more work in controlling weeds and 
grass. Usually a part of the fall set planis 
fail to survive the winter, but those that 
do survive start earlier and grow better 
_ than spring set plants. 
With good early dug dormant plants 
available for spring planting we think 
fall setting is very rarely justified except 
in Florida or other sections far South. Re- 
cent work with the Pocahontas variety in 
the Norfolk, Va. area may provide another 
exception. (See page 18.) 
WHAT KIND OF SOIL AND 
LOCATION ARE BEST? 
Any soil that makes good yields of gar- 
den or field crops will produce straw- 
berries 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 injurious frosts. 2—Run the ber- 
ry rows across a steeply sloping field 
rather than up and down to help prevent 
24 
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 in- 
jure your plants. Use of chlorodane (see 
page 27) makes the use of sod land much 
safer. With chlorodane we would prefer 
good sod land to poor cultivated land. 
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 strawberries. 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) because 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 pilots) 
spaded to a depih of 6 to 8 inches. Then 
with harrow or rake it should be leveled 
off tc 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. 
2. Early fall sowing of rye or wheat to 
give a heavy sod to be plowed under in 
late winter or very early spring. This will 
be easier to handle if disced up thor- 
oughly before plowing. 
3. Applications of horse, cow, hog or 
sheep manure at the rate of 5 to 20 tons 
per acre. This is the best of all prepara- 
tion for a fine crop of berries. Results — 
are almost equally good if one of these 
applications has been made for the pre- 
vious crop. Poultry manure is better 
when applied to the previous crop but is 
helpful to current crop if full of litter and 
