Friday, February 27, 2009

Choice Varieties for Compost Growing of Strawberries

By Mavis Batey

There is a wide range of remontant strawberries which increase the strawberry season by cropping heavily in. September and October. Even soils rich in lime, on which it is not easy to grow the normal strawberry varieties will produce perpetuals happily. Many people like to cover the rows with cloches or ganwicks early in October so that the berries can go on swelling and ripening until late in November. They usually yield. their heaviest crop the first season after planting but they will continue to crop for a number of years. I, however, likes to make a new bed every second year in the spring. Sometimes this has to be done by splitting the old plants because some varieties do not produce runners.

They can be planted in rows 18 inches apart, leaving a foot between the plants. The fruits, of course, are small and the propagation can be done by splitting up the clumps after fruiting has finished in the late autumn. Fifty plants are ample for a normal family. This is a strawberry which. will grow on a partially shaded border which has been enriched with plenty of fine old compost or, if preferred, sedge peat. It is possible to raise plants from seed or to buy them from nurserymen early in September. Pick off the first few flowers that appear and the plants will then. crop heavily from August to October, when the ordinary varieties are over.

Baron Solemacher is perhaps the best variety. Easy to grow and a heavy cropper.

Cambridge Vigor is a good variety for a frost pocket because the blossom trusses develop late Resistant to Red Core, botrytis and mildew. Excellent for canning, deep freezing and jam- making. Fruit is conical and glossy crimson. Season early.

Merton Princess is a variety raised by the John Tunes Research Institution which is resistant to Verticillium Wilt but unfortunately liable to Botrytis. Is very useful for a country district where it crops heavily and produces large, crimson fruits. It is very susceptible to Red Core. The blossoms are well protected from frost by the leaves. Season mid-early. Red Gauntlet is a variety raised by the Scottish Horticultural Research Institute. A vigorous compact grower, the large trusses of which stand clear of the foliage. The fruits also are very large and scarlet in colour. Flavour good. Season mid.

Royal Sovereign may be compared to the Cox's Orange of apples. Very delicious when well grown. Good for the heavier type of soil. The fruits are scarlet, very large and of excellent quality. Rather too leafy for growing under ganwicks or cloches. A lovely variety for the small garden. Season mid. Cambridge Rival is a grand variety for the wetter parts of Great Britain and in rainy seasons. Produces short trusses, plus foliage that is on long stems clear of the fruit. Is a good variety for sandy soils which may be low in potash, and the flavour of the berries is improved under ganwicks or frames. Is very resistant to the Red Core Root Rot. Fruits are large, conical, firm and crimson. They do not however travel well. Season early.

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