After the first crop has been picked, the foliage of standard varieties should be mowed off and removed from the patch. The rows should then be narrowed down by plowing a furrow from each side of the row leaving a ridge or back-furrow between the rows. This should be worked down with harrow and cultivator until the furrows have been filled and the ground again made level. A spike-tooth harrow may be used but the teeth should be set with a back slant so as not to tear out the plants when crossing the rows. In small gardens this work may be done with spade and garden rake. Continue working the ground until the surface is smooth. This will slightly cover the crowns and the plants which remain in the rows will soon come up through the fine covering of soil. Apply a top-dressing of manure, continue to cultivate the same as the first year, and your second crop will be fully as profitable as the first.
After fruiting the second year plow the plants under and plant the ground to some other crop at least one year before again setting to strawberries.
The Everbearers
The everbearers are so exceedingly productive and their fruiting season covers such a long period that it is absolutely necessary that the soil contain an abundance of plant-food and berry building material.
A heavy dressing of manure should be plowed under and thoroughly worked into the soil before plants are set and a top dressing of manure applied soon after setting, spreading the coarse material close around the plants under the foliage to serve as mulching when they begin fruiting.
The season the plants are set, all blossoms should be removed from Superb and Peerless until the latter part of June and from Perfection and Progressive until the early part of July, after which they may be allowed to fruit to full capacity. They should then fruit heavily until freezing weather. The following year they will fruit abundantly from early summer until late fall with the exception of a short rest period during July.
The everbearers may be grown either hill, single-hedge or double-hedge row system, but the hill system has proved the most profitable. It is unnecessary to mow the foliage off the everbearers although this may be done if desired the second year after the early summer crop has been picked, when the plants enter their rest period. If this is done prepare the bed the same as for standard varieties.
If these simple instructions are followed, the everbearers will prove exceedingly profitable either for home use or market.
Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is very essential in strawberry growing. After plants have fruited two years, they should be plowed under and the ground planted to some other crop. This may be done as soon as they have finished their second crop.