STRAWBERRY CULTURE 
CHOOSING THE LAND 
Almost any fertile land which is well drained will raise good strawber- 
ries. 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 fertilizer 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 
8 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. f 
WEED KILLERS 
The use of 2-4-D Weed Killers on strawberry plants is still in the ex- 
perimental 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 substantial 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. 
