“Flowers havE STRAWBERRIES FOR THE HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 28

“Flowers havE STRAWBERRIES FOR THE HOME

CULTIVATION AND ORIGIN Origin The well-known strawberry garden is the modern creation. It does not appear to have been cultivated by the ancients. It is only of later years that strawberry growing has become a * ustom, with the result that many new and improved strains have been produced. Three species of strawberries (Fragaria) have been concerned in making the berry now world-famous, namely, F. Visca, a native of Europe and Asia, F. Virginiana, of North America, and F. Chiloensis, a native of South America. From these three distinct species have sprung the large fruited varieties now sold in the shops. Planting

Few, if any, of our garden products supply a more delicious dessert than

strawberries. They will grow best in rich, well-drained, free-working soil. The beds are generally made about four or five feet wide, which allows of three rows of plants being put in—one row in the centre and one on either side, about six or eight inches from the outer edge. This, would allow for about eighteeu inches between the rows. Space the plants about a foot apart in the rows, taking care to

a .” —Swain. | spread the roots well out. ! Cover with some tine soil, and film them in, with the crowns just level I with the surface of the ground. Discarding Old Stock \ With the object of having the masij mum yield from the strawberry plot, | it is desirable that plants should not be kept over the third year. Young I plants give the most satisfactory results. It is a good plan to have three beds. These should he planted in successive years. After the third year one may be rooted out and another planting made. The two and three-year-old plants are the heaviest croppers. By regulating the planting the maximum yield may be had from two beds each year. Manuring Any of the animal manures, if well rotted, will be suitable for the plants. When the trenches or drills are opened up, place the manure in the bottom and cover it with soil. The young strawberry plants should be set. It is of the greatest importance to keep down all weed growth from among the plants, as many of the weeds if left for any length of time will make long roots. By disturbing the ground about the roots of the young strawberry plant there is a danger of injuring them, as they are shallow, or surface rooters. i Moisture is Essential | For successful growth, and fruiting, I moisture plays an important part. For | this reason, mulching the ground bej tween the rows is an important item j to be considered, as it seryes a dual j purpose by keeping the ground cool | and preventing the berries from bej coming splashed during heavy rains or when the plants are being watered j from a hose. ! Keep the Runners Cut Back i During the fruiting period many runners will make their appearance. These should be kept cut back until the fruiting has ceased. Only those that are required for the next year’s plants should be allowed to remain until they are rooted. Too much attention cannot he given to the preparation of the soil for these plants. If the soil is naturally of poor quality, it will not produce successfully without the aid of fertilisers of some kind.