Mating Varieties
Strawberry varieties are divided into sexes, male, (staminate or bi-sexual), usually indicated by the letter “B”; and female, (pistillate), by “P.”
The blossoms of the male varieties contain both male and female organs and are self-fertilizing while the blossoms of the female varieties contain only female organs and are dependent upon the pollen produced by the male varieties for fertilization. For this reason it is necessary to set plants of pistillate varieties in rows between rows of bisexuals of the same fruiting season. The pollen is carried by the wind and bees and in this manner, the blossoms of the pistillates become fertilized. Three or four rows of pistillates may be set with only one row of bisexuals on each side of the group.
Even with male varieties the crop may be increased and the quality of the berries improved if several bisexuals are set in the same patch as this provides an interchange of pollen which Nature intended.
Strawberry varieties do not mix or become crossed through the runners. Everbearers may be set beside standard varieties, or any number of different varieties may be grown side by side in a garden or field without mixing unless the runners of one variety are allowed to spread and take root in a row of another variety. Prevent this by restricting runners of each variety to their respective rows.
Setting Plants
Plants should be pruned before they are set. This is done by cutting off the tip ends of the roots, causing a callous to form where each root is cut off. From these callouses, myriads of fine feeding roots start soon after plants are set.
SIDE VIEW OF SECTION OF A ROW SHOWING PLANTS GROWN SINGLE-HEDGE SYSTEM