CULTURAL INSTRUCTIONS 



Early spring is the proper time to set out 

 strawberry lants, just as soon as the weath- 

 er permits getting the ground ready. In 

 the South February, March and early April. 

 In the middle states March and. April. In 

 the northern states April. Any soil that 

 will grow good garden or field crops will 

 grow strawberries. They respond quickly 

 to good cultivation and good soil. It is best 

 to avoid sod land on account of white grubs 

 cutting off the young plants. If plants are 

 set out on sod land it should be plowed in 

 the fall and harrowed as often as possible 

 and many of the white grubs will be killed. 



The land should be well prepared before 

 plants are set out, and mark the rows about 

 3^ to 4 feet apart and plants set about 12 

 to 15 inches apart in the rows, with all the 

 roots set straight in the ground, pack soil 

 firmly around the plant. It is better to 

 have the roots clipped a little rather than 

 doubled up in the ground. 

 . Most all strawberries are grown by the 

 matted row system; that is to leave about 

 all the runners on the parent plant to take 

 root and make a wide row, leaving enough 

 room in the alley for the convenience of the 

 pickers. Barnyard manure is the best for 

 strawberries if broadcast on the land and 

 worked into the ground before plants are 

 set out. Commercial fertilizers broadcast 

 and worked in the soil before plants are set 

 will give good results; if applications of 

 fertilizer are made at any time after plants 

 are set do not apply when plants are wet 

 as it will injure them, also it is better to use 

 a broom to brush fertilizer off the plants. 

 Do not use fertilizer in the row under the 

 plants before they are set as it will cause 

 the plants to perish and die. For topdress- 

 ing the bearing beds in spring a 5-8-5 or 

 7-6-5 will give good results at the rate of 

 about 400 to 600 pounds per acre. 



