STRAWBERRY CULTURE 
CHOOSING THE LAND 
Almost any fertile land which is well drained will raise good 
strawberries. We advise against setting on greensward because of the 
presence of white grubs who relish the tender roots of strawberries. If 
possible, plant on land on which no lime has been spread for at least 
one year. 
FERTILIZING 
We recommend spreading your fertilizer broadcast on the ground 
after the land has been plowed and harrowed. Then harrow the fertiliz- 
er in. This places your fertilizer where it will be available to the new 
plants as they commence to run. Additional fertilizer may be added 
any time during the first year if needed. Do not fertilize your bed the 
spring that it is going to bear for the extra fertilizer will go into the 
leaves. 
WHEN TO PLANT 
Order your plants early and set them out early. If you order your 
plants early you will be sure of getting the varieties you want and you 
will get the plants when you want them. When your plants arrive, if 
you are not ready for setting out, take from box or package and put in 
cellar in a cool, dark place. Keep roots moist. Wet roots before setting. 
SETTING OUT PLANTS 
Strawberries may be spaced 15-18 inches apart in the rows, and 
rows 3 to 4 feet apart. Later in the season the plants should be set 
closer. In setting the plants, dig a hole large enough to enable you to 
spread the roots well. The plants should be set deep enough so that 
the roots are well covered, yet care should be taken that the tender 
heart is uncovered. Press the plant firmly into the ground. 
CARE OF BED 
The blossoms should be picked off the first year so that all the 
strength of the plant will go into the new runners. Of course, the 
strawberry bed must be hoed often enough during the summer to keep 
it free from weeds. 
MULCHING 
The bed should be covered during the early winter with a thin 
covering of straw, hay or meadow grass. Use whichever of these that is 
easier or cheaper for you to obtain. In the spring, the hay may be 
raked between the rows, making a cushion for the pickers during the 
season. This also prevents dirty berries. 
WEED KILLERS 
The use of 2-4-D weed Killers on strawberry plants is still in the 
experimental stage. We have used it on short rows of each of our 
varieties. The weed killers will not kill strawberry plants and will keep 
the weeds under control but, in our opinion, it does slow up the growth 
of the runners. We would not advise the use of weed killers on sub- 
stantial acreages of berries until more is known of its effects. 
RED STELE DISEASE 
Our strawberry plant beds are carefully examined each summer by 
specialists of The Connecticut Experiment Station and there has never 
been any Red Stele found on this farm. We have never had a complaint 
that Red Stele has been found in beds started with our plants. 
