Level strawberry fields according to the type of irrigation to be used. Good winter drainage will prevent the excessively wet soils that aid development of various root rots. Use of sprinkler irrigation is recommended for establishing the new crop and, in some cases, for leaching salts from the soil during harvest. Applying manure or compost within a year of planting is not recommended because of the salt load added to the soil along with the weed seeds. A cover crop adds beneficial organic matter to the soil, but is must be incorporated into the soil far enough ahead of soil fumigation to have completely decomposed.
Cover crops are common in the central coast where production practices allow partial crop rotation.
Most growers use a mixture of barley plus bell beans planted in October. Preplant soil amendments should be thoroughly disked into the soil after leveling to prevent pockets of salt concentrations. After the soil is leveled, fumigants are applied by specially equipped and trained applicators. Growers should arrange for the application well in advance of the desired fumigation date. For best results, the soil should contain a small amount of moisture but still be fairly dry and in excellent tilth.