Growing Strawberries 



Strawberries are one of the easiest crops to grow. Good plants set at the proper season 

 in good soil will thrive 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 registered virus-free 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 has good moisture. Like other fruit, straw- 

 berries require almost full sunlight for good fruit 

 production. 



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 may give poor results, but recently 

 cleared woodland is excellent. If good soil is prop- 

 erly prepared, it can be successfully replanted to 

 strawberries a year after an old planting was 

 plowed up. Important requirements 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 poultry 

 manure can be used. Many growers plow under 

 about 500 lbs. of complete fertilizer two or three 

 weeks before planting, but if the soil contains a 

 good supply of manure this is not necessary. 



Use of a good soluble fertilizer at time of plant- 

 ing is recommended. It will not burn the plants 

 and can be safely used at any time during the grow- 

 ing season. 



Strawberries have a high requirement for nitro- 

 gen, but it must be applied at the proper time or 

 else very adverse effects may result. Fruit buds, 

 which determine the spring crop, are developed in 

 the plant during August and September. There- 

 fore, this is the most important time to apply fer- 

 tilizer. Most successful growers apply about 500 

 lbs. per acre of a 10-6-4, 8-8-8, or similar fertilizer 

 at this time. This is equal to about 1 lb. per 80 sq. 

 ft. of strawberrj^ bed. The fertiUzer should be 

 spread directly on the plants when dry and then 

 brushed off the leaves. If applied when the leaves 

 are wet, injury may result. 



An excellent organic plant food for strawberries 

 and nearly all other plants is cottonseed meal. It 

 is obtained entirely from ground cottonseed and 

 is thus entirely organic in nature. Usually it con- 

 tains about 6% nitrogen, 3% phosphoric acid, and 

 2% potash plus other important elements. Thus, 

 cottonseed meal is a perfect plant food for those 

 who follow the highly commendable practices of 

 organic gardening. It is usually used at the rate of 

 4 lbs. per 25 ft. of strawberry row and will cause 

 no injury or damage to the plants. It should be 

 applied once in early spring, again in midsummer. 



In general, it is best not to apply fertilizer dur- 

 ing the spring on fruiting beds. This can cause 

 excess plant growth, reduced fruit production, and 

 poorer quahty. We believe this is one of the most 

 common causes of poor strawberry }delds and rec- 

 ommend that fruiting beds should not be fertihzed 

 in the spring. 



When to plant: Early spring is usually the best 

 time to plant strawberries. In northern states it is 

 best to wait until May or even June when the soil 

 is in good condition. Frost or snow will not harm 

 newly planted strawberries. With Rayner's dor- 

 mant plants, there is a definite trend to summer 

 planting where irrigation is available. This gives a 

 less crowded plant bed which yields unusually 

 heavy crops of very large berries. In cold climates 

 we do not recommend planting after mid-July. Fall 

 plantings are sometimes successful but are often 

 damaged or completely destroyed by winter injury. 



How to plant: It is important not to set the 

 plant too deep or too shallow — see photo below. 

 Do not clip the roots but spread them out full 

 length and press soil around the plant so that the 

 roots are firmly anchored in the soil. About a pint 

 of water or soluble fertilizer 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, 

 with 4 ft. between rows. Slightly narrow fruiting 

 beds -vNill usually have better yields and higher 

 quality than beds that are unusually thick. There 

 are usually two extra plants per bunch, so set the 

 extras at a row end and use if replacements are 

 needed. 



Plants Required Per Acre 



Plants required per acre at various 

 planting distances : 

 Rows Distance in Row Plants per Acre 



3^2 ft. apart 

 33^ ft. apart 

 33/i ft. apart 

 4 ft. apart 

 4 ft. apart 

 4 ft. apart 

 4 ft. apart 



18 in. 

 24 in. 

 30 in. 

 15 in. 

 18 in. 

 24 in. 

 30 in. 



8,325 

 6,225 

 5,000 

 8,750 

 7,300 

 5,425 

 4,375 



*'-'»» 



16 



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