There are many systems for planting and growing strawberries but the
most profitable are the hill, single-hedge and double-hedge row.
[Illustration: SIDE VIEW OF SECTION OF A ROW SHOWING PLANTS GROWN HILL
SYSTEM]
[Illustration: Sex in strawberry plants graphically presented. Above;
pistillate blossom. Below; blossom of a bi-sexual plant.]
For the hill system, rows should be made 30 inches apart, plants set 15
inches apart in the row and all runners removed.
By setting in check rows the wide spaces can be cultivated with
single-horse cultivator and the narrow spaces with hand cultivator. This
leaves only a very small area around each plant to be hoed and reduces
considerably the cost of cultivation.
In small gardens the rows may be made two feet apart and plants set one
foot apart in the row and if crowded for room they may be set 15 inches
apart each way.
Fourteen thousand plants may be set on a single acre when they are set
30 x 15 inches.
(NOTE: By Hill System, we do not refer to hilling or ridging the
ground. The plants should be set with the crowns level with the
surface the same as in either of the other systems. Never ridge the
ground unless there is slow and improper drainage.)
The single-hedge row is formed by setting plants two feet apart in rows
which are spaced three feet apart. Each original plant is allowed to
make two runner plants which are layered on opposite sides of the mother
plant directly in line with the row. All other runners should be
removed. Seven thousand plants are required for one acre.
For the double-hedge row, plants are set two feet apart in rows which
are spaced three and one-half feet apart. Each original plant is allowed
to make six runner plants, two of which are layered on opposite sides of
the mother plant directly in line with the row. The other four are
layered, two on each side of the mother plant, in the spaces between the
rows. This forms three distinct rows, the original row and a row of
runner plants on each side. After the rows are thus formed all other
runners should be removed. Six thousand plants are required for one
acre.