PLANTING STRAWBERRIES

Press, Volume L, Issue 15017, 11 July 1914, Page 9

PLANTING STRAWBERRIES

A reader of these notes asks for advice regarding making a. straAvberry, patch. The presenttimo. is .not-very favourable for planting, as* the soil is too cold for them to mako, a start if set out. Where frosts aro severe the newly set out plants are liable to bo thrown out-of tho ground, and will have tobo j_planted. There aro two seasons; for planting out—--tho autumn and the spring. ' In -districts -where frosts are severe, it is wise to set out the", plants in spring, but ; in - milder climes autumn planting :. is, favoured. •There are some advantages in spring planting.inany climate. If tho grbufid has been well worked in the autumn and winter,, the soil is in a friable con-, dition for setting out. The roots of tho strawberry beiiig small and; fibrous, they get a rgrip at once in such" wellworked soil, and oecome exceedingly active, and, as.a result, the tops soon show that conditions are to their liking. By the end of* the summer r.they will havo formed large plants capable of bearing heavy crops of -fruit'tho following year. Possibly, the plants may, | if strong, give some fchit the first season after planting, but limited in j quantity. Early autumn planted straw- | berries will, if conditions are favourable, get a grip of the soil before win-' ter, and be fitted for fruiting the first; season. Should the ground have seeds of weeds in it, these will germinate-; and grow and compete with the straw-' berry plants, and the latter, unless worked amongst or mulched • with manure, are liable to become smc-th-. ered by the quick-growing weeds. This fact is the strongest reason against setting out strawberries in the autumn. The strawberry will grow avoll in any soil where potash is- present. Virgin soil, where no previous crops havo been crown, is just the thing they revel in. y\n some of the poor land around Auckland heavy yields of strawberries are obtained as a result of a -free application of bono dust before setting out the plants, and a yearly dressing of tho same manure while tho plants are at rest. Basic slag is also used by market growers with the _best res.lts. This plant is fond of moisture during tho growing season, and will stand many applications of water during the summer months, this particularly when applied as a shower bath. It, however, is very impatient of water at tho roots during the winter-; and because of this tho ground should he thoroughly drained. Fungoid diseases affect the plants badly in somo districts, the foliage being quite destroyed at times. Spraying with a suitable fungicide will keep tbe plants clear from this troublesomo disease.