Strawberry Growing In Colorado. 
BY 
By B. O. Longyear. 
One of the earliest horticultural crops to be cultivated in Colorado 
was the strawberry. It is probable that plants were first broui^ht into 
this state from DesMoines, Iowa, by Mr. J. B. Wolf in 1863 and 
planted on river bottom land west of Denver. Altho this plot was 
destroyed by flood the following spring Mr. L. K. Perrin, of Denver, 
who had secured some of these plants, sold in 1865 the first Colorado 
grown strawberries for $3.50 a quart. This early demonstration of 
strawberry raising in Colorado has been followed in later years by the 
development of the business in certain parts of the state into an impor¬ 
tant commercial industry. 
This bulletin presents the methods practiced by many of the most 
successful strawberry growers in localities where the industry is 
carried on on a commercial scale. 
Soils. While the strawberry can be successfully grown on soils 
of widely varying character it does best on a sandy or fine gravelly 
loam. Such soils are more easily worked than those of a heavy, 
clayey nature and they produce earlier crops of better quality than the 
latter. Heavy soils, with good natural under-drainage, can be made to 
yield heavy crops especially when lightened \vith manure tnoionghly 
incorporated with the soil or by plowing under late growth of alfalfa. 
Where the soil is not well drained naturally, tile drainage may often 
be used to remove surface water from the land. For altho the straw¬ 
berry is a plant that requires a plentiful supply of moisture at the roots 
it is rapidly injured by a wet soggy condition of the soil. 
Location. The land selected for strawberry growing should be 
level enough so that an even watering of the soil may be secured with¬ 
out danger of washing. Where the land is at all uneven, high places 
must be lowered and depressions filled, otherwise the soil will be too 
wet in some places while others go dry. If none but sloping land is 
available the rows may be run in such manner as to avoid a strong fall 
by following the contour of the slope. 
Preparation of Land. The best growers lay much stress on careful 
preparation of the land. Fall plowing followed bv a second plowing 
in spring is often practiced. This is especially desirab’e if the soil is 
inclined to become lumpy. Sandy loams are cai)able of good prepara¬ 
tion if deeply plowed in late winter or early spring, followed by 
thorough harrowing. A leveler made of plank is employed to reduce 
lumps and give an even surface. 
In case strawberries are to follow alfalfa sod, fall plowing and 
