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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 produce 
fine crops by following common sense 
methods. 
WHEN DO THEY BEAR? Standard varie- 
ties set in March, April or early May 1949 
will bear their best crop in May or June 
1950. Everbearing varieties set in early 
spring produce berries in late summer 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 addi- 
tion, 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. 
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 har- 
row 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 valu- 
able if plowed under while still green. 
2. Early fall sowing of rye or wheat to 
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. 
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