Get beds ready for strawberries now
RICKY THOMPSON

Many think of planting strawberries in the spring, but for the best production they need to be planted in the fall to develop a good root system and to be ready to produce when the spring freezes finish. They will grow all over this South Texas area with a lot of "TLC" (tender love & care). The care is watering, weeding and a little fertilization.

A strawberry bed will produce one gallon of berries for every 10-15 plants. Late October and November are the best times to transplant starters.

The top three home garden varieties for this area are the Florida 90, Cardinal and Sequoia. There are others for commercial production, but these do not have the disease resistance needed for home plantings. Many good plants can be obtained from a friend or neighbor who is thinning their bed since they need thinning or replanting every year or two.

Strawberries need damp soil, but do not plant where water stands. They can be planted on flat beds in sandy land or in raised beds in the lower areas.

First, clean off an area by killing all nutgrass or Bermuda grass and other compost. Secondly, add a little commercial fertilizer such as 12-12-12 at the rate of 1 cup per 100 sq. ft. of area and about 10 lbs. of Ag Lime per 100 sq. ft.

If in wet soils, make a raised bed about 6 in. tall and cover with black plastic. When you get your plants, take a garden trowel and punch holes about 10- 12 in. apart and plant in the holes you made. Then water well. Laying a sprinkler hose the length of the bed makes it easy next year to water.

If you use the black plastic, do not mulch. This draws heat all winter and helps the plants grow better when becoming established. Next summer the plants should have the plastic shaded or you can add pine straw to shade the plastic and keep the bed cool. Strawberries need full sunshine but it is a good idea to have late afternoon shade in the hot summer.

Then get ready for strawberry pie, jam, preserves, ice cream or just plain fresh strawberries.

Ricky Thompson is the Jasper County extension agent, 384- 3721.