Rennie Bros. Argilla Road Andover, Mass. 
Select a piece of land that has had a hoed crop for two years. 
If your land will wash away during the winter months, be sure 
and plant a cover crop. Land that is fairly level should be plowed 
late in the fall. We always plow again in the spring 10” deep and 
harrowed until it is quite loose. The finer the condition of the soil 
at planting time, the better for the crop and the easier to take 
care of it. 
Plant strawberries on new land. On land that hasn’t been 
set to strawberries for two or more years and that has had at 
least two good cover crops plowed under, and you will be assured 
of a good crop. Strawberry plants grown on new land are always 
free from disease. 
What To Do With Rennie’s New Land Plants 
Set plants upon arrival if possible. If for any reason you are 
unable to plant as soon as plants arrive, the plants should be 
taken to some cool place, then taken from the crate; dampen the 
moss a little, replace back in crate, very lightly. Plants taken 
care of in this way should be in good condition for four or five 
days. If you are still unable to plant in four or five days, they 
should be heeled in a V shaped trench. Make your trench 6” deep 
with a little slope so that plants will stand up. Untie the bunches, 
spread them in layers in the trench firmly with the earth up 
against the roots and keep the crowns just level with the surface. 
Keep the plants shaded for a few days and water to give them a 
good start. Plants will keep this way for a long time. Always 
keep the labels with the plants so as not to get them mixed. 
Time To Plant 
The best time to plant is as soon as the ground can be plowed 
and harrowed. The earlier the better. April 1 to June 1 for spring 
setting. August and September for fall setting. All things being 
equal, strawberry plants do better when set early where the 
land is moist and before the plants have had a chance to grow 
much. 
Setting Plants 
After the ground is in perfect condition, mark the rows out 
with any kind of a light marker, being sure to get the rows 
straight and the same distance apart. Our plants are all trimmed 
ready to set which will save you a lot of time and a much better 
job can be done in planting. Any tool that will make a hole deep 
enough to get the roots down straight, (not slanting as often is 
done, near the surface where they will dry out). We always make 
a hole about 5” deep, 4”’ wide with a V shaped instrument. 
Lay the roots of the plants in, fan shaped and press the 
ground firmly against them; just firm enough to prevent the air 
reaching the roots and drying them. Get the moist deeper earth 
to the roots and not the dry top soil. Watering is only necessary 
in very dry seasons. 
