Growing Strawberries 



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

 in good soil will respond with ordinary 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. 



Soil Requirements: Strawberries prefer a slight- 

 ly acid, fertile, soil tliat is naturallj' moist but still 

 is well drained. 



Preparing Tiie Land: The soil can be plowed or 

 spaded in the fall and allowed to lie fallow over 

 winter. This aids in controlling insects and ne- 

 matodes. In the spring the land should be 

 thoroughly worked until it is in good condition. 



Fertilizer Requirements: Strawberries grow es- 

 pecially well in land that contains a high amount 

 of organic matter. Any type of manure is helpful 

 if applied in the early spring and thoroughly mix- 

 ed with the soil before planting. Strawberries al- 

 so give excellent results when commercial fertilizer 

 such as 10-0-4 or 8-8-8 is used. If the land is ex- 

 ceptionally fertile little or no fertilizer may be 

 needed but on most soils from 1.000 to 2,000 pounds 

 per acre is used. About half of this amount should 

 be worked into the soil about 10 days before plant- 

 ing and the rest applied during the growing sea- 

 son. These later applications can be made with 

 side-dressing attachments or applied directly on 

 the plants when the plants are dry. Fertilizer 

 should be brushed or washed off the leaves since it 

 can kill the plants if left directly on them. In gen- 

 eral it is best not to fertilize established beds of 

 strawberries in the spring. 



When To Plant: The best time to plant straw- 

 berries is early in the spring — just as soon as 

 the land can be properly worked. Light frost or 

 even snow will not harm plants that have just been 

 set. Recently there has been much interest in sum- 

 mer and early fall planting. In the past it was 

 difficult to obtain dormant strawberry plants at 

 this time and such plants give far better results 

 than actively growing plants. Now it is possible 

 to keep spring-dug plants in cold storage for late 

 planting and we will have a supply of such plants 

 available. 



How To Phmt: An important factor in success- 

 ful planting is to set the plant at the depth shown 

 in the illustration on this page. Make a hole and 

 set the plant so that the roots are straight. As an 

 aid for better stands, quicker starting, and better 

 plant beds we recommend Miller's V.H.P.F. soluble 

 fertilizer as a starter solution. Mix the powder 

 with water at the rate of 6 lbs. per 100 gal. or 

 2^4 tablespoonfuls per gallon and pour about i^ 

 pint around each plant. We have used this ma- 

 terial for years and can assure vou that it will 

 give excellent results without danger of plant in- 

 jury. After the plant is properlv set be sure to 

 pack the soil around it so that it is firmlv held in 

 the ground. The proper planting distance for 

 strawberries is to have the rows from 42 to 48 

 inches apart and the plants from 16 to 24 inches 

 apart in the rows. 



AVeed Control: Proper and frequent use of hoes 

 and cultivating equipment is the best wav to con- 

 trol weeds in strawberries. However, there are 

 some other aids that are of much benefit. For years 

 we have fenced our fields and used geese at the 

 rate of 2 or 3 per acre for control of grass They 

 really do a good job. A weed killer known as Crag 



Herbicide 1 (Sesone) is 



good for strawberries. 

 Other materials, such as 

 Chloro I. P. C. and Sinox 

 are also used. Consult 

 your local authorities for 

 proper use. 



NEMAGON 



Plants Required Per Acre 



Plants required per acre at various planting 

 distances : 





Rows 



Distance in Row 



Plants per Acre 



3% 



feet apart 



18 inches 



8,325 



3^2 



feet apart 



24 inches 



6.225 



'6¥. 



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 



^^^^^K 



We sell Craig lifrbicide 1 for $6.25, plus postage, 

 for a 2 lb. package. This sounds expensive but it 

 must be remembered that 2 lbs. will control weeds 

 in one acre of land. We also have a 4 oz. package 

 for $1.50. This size is ideal for home plantings. 



Control Of Diseases And Insects: In general 

 strawberries can be successfully grown without 

 use of sprays or dusts. However, there is often 

 some loss from fruit rot and insects that can be 

 prevented. We recommend Miller's Fruit Spray 

 for this purpose. If applied several times from the 

 pre-blossom period until 2 weeks before fruit is 

 ripe it will save a lot of fruit that is normally lost 

 to rot and insects. See page 23 for further infor- 

 mation on this product. Another material for con- 

 trol of fruit rot is captan. If the red stele disease 

 is a problem it can be readily solved by use of 

 some of the fine red stele-resistant varieties des- 

 cribed in this catalog. 



Damage to strawberry roots by grubs, root 

 aphids, wireworms, and other soil insects can be 

 controlled bv proper use of Miller's 6% chlordane 

 (page 23). Use about 1 lb. per 200 sq. ft. of plant 

 bed. Apply when ground is prepared in spring. 

 We use Miller's Chlordane on all our strawberry 

 fields and recommend it to you. Nemagon is ex- 

 cellent for control of root-knot nematodes and many 

 other nematodes. It can be mixed into the soil be- 

 fore planting or applied later as a side dressing. 

 We now offer Miller's Nemagon to our customers. 

 See bottom of page for description and prices. 



Miller's nemagon is a granular product that can be applied to straw- 

 berries and many other actively growing plants without harmful effects. 

 When properly mixed in the soil, it will control root-knot nematodes and 

 many other types of these tiny worms that affect the roots of plants. 

 Miller's nemagon is perfectly safe to use and easy to apply. Complete 

 directions are on each package. 5 lbs. (enough to treat 630 sq. ft.) $2.50, 

 plus postage. 



22 



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