Care for Strawberry Plants

Many of us look forward to the time when we can grow our own fruit. If sufficient space is available and we are willing to give the trees and bushes the proper care, this is practical. But all too often they are not given the necessary pest control care and the fruit produced is diseased or wormy. However, by growing our own it is possible to enjoy varieties which are of better quality than many that are grown commercially and none can compare in flavor with tree-ripened fruit. Peaches are desirable because we may plant varieties not grown commer­cially, especially the white-fleshed kinds. White varieties, in order of season of ripening, are Erly-Red-Fre, Cumberland, and Belle of Georgia. Yellows are Jersey-land, Redhaven, Golden Jubilee, Trio-gem, Fairhaven, Sunhigh, Halehaven, Redskin, After Glow, Lizzie. Plums (tree-ripened fruit) are difficult to buy at stores. Those that will set fruit with their own pollen are Stanley, Shropshire damson, French damson. Those that must be pollinated by another variety are Bradshaw, Imperial Epin-euse, Italian prune and Reine Claude. The Japanese varieties are more difficult to grow in many localities.

Strawberries are probably the most practical fruit for home gardens. Care for strawberry plants as with all fruit, a sunny location is needed. And it must be very well drained. Since a bed goes down in yield after a couple of years, a new one should be started from runners the second season. June bearing varieties will yield better than ever-bearers, and many of them have better quality. The better June varieties are Armore, Fairland, Sparkle, Plentiful, Pocahontas, Catskill, and Vermilion. For ever bearers try Brilliant, Gem and Super-fection.

Sour cherries are easy to grow but sweet cherries need another tree to polli­nate them. And with all cherries the birds are a problem if you have only a tree or two.

Apples and pears become large trees unless dwarfs are planted. Contrary to many advertisements, only apples and pears are available as satisfactory dwarf trees. Fireblight disease is a problem that as yet is difficult to control, particu­larly in pears. Better check with your agricultural experiment station to find out what varieties, if any, are practical for your locality—and for the space you wish to give them.

Blueberries are worth trying if your soil is acid or if you can keep it acidified. The plants are decorative as shrubs and have lovely fall color. But the catalogs fail to say that every bird in the locality will stop by to eat the blueberries unless

Proper care for strawberry plants, the rows should be closely spaced in this bed, about twelve inches apart. Runners will be cut off. Set strawberry plants with the crown at soil level, remove the first blossoms. Blossom clusters are re­moved the first spring so that all the strength goes toward developing strong strawberry plants which will bear heavily in the fol­lowing spring which will be the first harvest. By keeping the straw­berry bed mulched with straw, salt hay, or sim­ilar material, weeds are kept down, soil moisture is retained, and the fruit is clean

Care for strawberry plants