Strawberries
Strawberries are available in two types. The standard type has one
crop of berries in June. The ever-bearing varieties will have a June crop,
as well as a late summer crop. Some newer, improved varieties of ever-bearing
strawberries will produce fruit all season long.
Grow strawberries in well-drained, weed-free soil. When planting, it is essential to put the strawberry into the soil at the proper depth. The new leaf bud in the center should sit level with the soil surface. Bare root plants should have their roots spread out like a fan. Trim long and scraggly roots. Remove blossoms on the standard type the first year that the plants are set out to encourage vigorous growth. Ever-bearing varieties will produce a crop in late Summer and Fall, if blossoms are left on after the middle of July.
The matted row system of planting spaces the plants 12" apart and the rows 3' apart. The runners are then allowed to grow together. This system produces large crops the year the plants are allowed to fruit.
Fertilize strawberries with about two cups of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 foot row in early Spring. The plants require large quantities of water; irrigate frequently during dry periods.
Revised: 03/10/98
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