STRAWBERRY CULTURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1939, Page 9

STRAWBERRY CULTURE

EARLY PLANTING BEST. USB WELL-ROOTED RUNNERS. The best soil for growing strawberries is a good loam, with a clay subsoil, although they will grow satisfactorily on many other classes of soil. Procure good, well-rooted runners. These may be planted in rows, beds or hills. When, planting in rows the plants are set 12 to 18 inches, and the rows 20 to 30 inches apart. In beds, the rows are set a little closer, leaving an alley of greater width between every three rows. When planting the runners, only the roots should be put in the soil, and not the. rootstock from which the crowns form. The best time to plant is from the end of April, until June, when the runners have attained a suitable size. However, the earlier the plants are set out the better. They are then able to produce sufficient growth before they fruit, and carry a good crop of berries. Should the plants not be growing sufficient foliage, all flowers which form before the end of August, should be picked off.'This will help the plants to grow foliage, and the flowers will come later. The best method of manuring is to dig in plenty of green manure when preparing the bed, then give a dressing of blood and bone at the rate of two ounces per square yard before planting. When the fruit has set, give a topdressing of sulphate of ammonia at the rate of one ounce per square yard. Some home gardeners make the mistake of stopping the watering of strawberries after the crop has finished. The strawberry is only a shallow-rooted plant. When watering is discontinued during the drier months, the plant deteriorates and dies out. This trouble does not, of course, occur in commercial plantations where the practice is to replant every year, grubbing out the plants as soon as they have fruited. In most home gardens, however, the strawberry bed is allowed to remain for several years, and the care of the plants after fruiting, exerts a great influence on the crop for the next season.