Growing systems

In this traditional system the plants are set at 90 cm (36") apart in rows with
42.5 cm (17") between plants giving a density of 25,317 plants/hectare
(10,250 plants/ acre). Planting can take place from the end of August until the end of March when ground conditions are suitable.

From an early planting, that is, before the third week in September it should be possible to achieve an economic crop in the next summer but for later plantings it is advisable to remove the flowers and not take a crop in the first year. This will allow the crowns to build up for the following year.

When planting take care not to let the roots dry out. Do not leave plants exposed at the head of the field - always keep the roots covered with damp sacking. Runners should be planted so that the crown is level with the soil. If planted too deeply the crown will be covered with soil and leaves have difficulty emerging and the plant may die. If the plant is too high, the roots are partially exposed and the new roots emerging from the base of the crown cannot establish readily. Plants with exposed roots are liable to herbicide damage and frost damage. Make sure the plant is firm in the ground.

When planting use a dibber or planting tool which will make a hole deep enough to avoid doubling up of the roots. Where roots are very long some trimming may take place but it is essential that the roots go straight down into the soil.

Strawberry rows should be no longer than about 65 metres. This reduces to a minimum the time pickers spend walking with their fruit to a collection point. Longer rows can be divided by a cross alley so allowing picking from each end.

Immediately after planting, provided the soil is moist, a suitable residual herbicide should be applied and further applications of residuals will be required on a regular basis. A spray programme can be worked out depending on dominant weed species present.

Runners will be produced in July and in open ground systems runners are allowed to root alongside the original plants forming what is known as a matted row. Excess runners are either cut off or destroyed by sprays of contact herbicide.

It is also possible to use cold stored runners planted in May/June. For treatment of these, refer to the section on raised bed systems.

Where crops are to be planted through polythene it is advisable to lay two lines of T-tape along the top of the bed before the polythene is laid. This will allow fertigation during the growing season. While this may not be of as much benefit in our damp climate as in a drier climate, there will usually be some time during the season when fertigation will be beneficial and in certain years it will greatly enhance yield. A moisture meter can be used to determine when irrigation should be given.

Generally black polythene is used and this causes the soil to warm up early in the spring so advancing the crop. However, it can be a disadvantage in hot summers as the surface of the polythene can become very hot and fruit lying on it can 'cook'. Blue polythene can be used - this does not warm the soil as much as the black but conversely it does not get as hot in the summer.

The beds can be made up and T-tape laid and covered with black polythene any time when soil is easily workable. Do not burn the holes in the polythene until near the time of planting. There are then two options:

As with the open ground system planting can take place from the end of August until the end of March but in recent years it has become popular to use cold-stored runners planted in May to give a small crop in late July/August and come into main crop in the following year.

When planting cold stored runners aim to plant only as much in a day as you can irrigate. For the first 10-14 days this irrigation should be in the form of a low volume overhead sprinkler system connected to a timer. The aim of this irrigation is never to let the crown dry out as it takes the roots some time to develop. After approximately 10 days, roots should become established and overhead irrigation after this should be given perhaps twice a week for the next 10 days and after this can be dispensed with. By this time there will be sufficient roots and if further irrigation is needed this can be given through the T-tape.