The Greeley tribune., 1911-07-06
STRAWBERRY GROWING
IN COLORADO

/ The growing of Strawberries In
Colorado has had many ups and
downs. At times strawberry grow
Ing in the lower attitudes has been
intensely profitable. At other times
it has seemed to be difficult to Sc
cure a profitable crop.
The strawberry, Fragaria chiolen-
sis, was first introduced from Chilli
nearly 200 years ago. 1t delights
in cool. moist climate. The ma
tive Strawberries. Fragaria Virgin
lana, has been put under domestica-
tion many times, but without much
success. There are still other spe-
cies, Fragaria vesca, and also Fra
garia moschata. that are grown in
Europe, as dessert fruits, and are
Strawberries None OF these spe-
cies except the first mentioned has
so far become valuable under culti-
walton in America.
There is no reason why the
strawberry should not be grown
successfully, at least for home use,
in practically all parts OF Colorado.
The strawberry is one of the most
cosmopolitan fruits, and while it
delights in a cool climate, 1t is
grown in the early part of the sea-
son in the southern states. The
higher attitudes of Colorado are es-
pecially adapted to the culture of
this fruit, and the industry is be-
such points as Steamboat Springs,
Durango and other places.
The greatest difficulty in straw
berry culture in the lower attitudes
OF Colorado is in preventing the
plants from dying out or being
weakened during our open dry win
ters. Mulching to prevent this has
not been entirely successful as in
many cases the plants have come
through better without mulching
than with. Probably the best
methods for general culture of
strawberries in the lower attitudes
of Colorado is to plant In rows
from &c to "A inches apart and to
allow the runners to make matted
row 8 to 90 inches wide. Cultiva-
tion between these rows should be
i almost continuous. Where it is not
, desirable to mulch the plants
, themselves during winter, mulch
of coarse stable manure or straw is
+ beneficial in the cultivated space
between the rows. Then, where ir-
rigation can be given during the
winter, so as to keep the soil moist
there Is comparatively little danger
!. Of plants seriously winter killing.
!. The first good strong runners are
/. best for securing plants. These may
he set any month during the grow
ing season, from the time the run
). ners form until late fall, or they
may be left and set in the spring.
:, Any of the standard varieties do
st we'll in Colorado. For home use
Senator Dunlap is undoubtedly one
Z. of the best. as 1t is a prolific plan,
a. maker. producing an abundance OF
good sized. high quality fruit, al
V. though the berries are sometime:
n. rather soft to stand shipping we'll
Other good varieties are Aroma
Id Marshall. Sample, Warfield and Be
is derwood AT the present we hav
growing in the college garden I
nd OF the standard varieties with whfc
to we are experimenting. not only a
Id to variety tests but for methods o
culture and control OF diseases.
to Tn some parts of Colorado a fun
T. gous disease which attacks th
crown of the plants has caused con
s. siderable trouble. This diseas,
l3 makes its appearance by the willing
and dying of the plants at abou
" fruiting time Care should be TAX
/. en- not to get young plants from
plantations that are thus affected
Il. and new plantations should not bt
put on soil that has previousl,
v. been troubled with this disease. y
+. far we know no other remedy o.
preventative of this trouble.
G. We believe that for large par
0 of Colorado Strawberries in small
blocks at least can be made i'm
K mensely profitable. for seldom d.
l the berries retail at less than fif
teen cents quart.
ct f. r. BENNETT,
1 Colorado Agricultural College. For
O. Collins