How to Propagate Strawberries

Red and white currants are propagated in a similar manner to gooseberries but cuttings can be taken with success far later. With the former, as has been said, it is always better to take the cuttings while the leaves are still on the bushes in the late autumn.

The Ministry of Agriculture license special growers to produce virus-free strawberry plants. Here the propagation is done in isolation so that there is a minimum chance of virus infection. The plants are set out on the 4-foot square basis and the runners are trained out carefully like the rays of the sun. Two types of certificates are issued to producers: ‘Special Stock’ and ‘A Stock’.. The plants to which the certificates are issued have been inspected by the Ministry of Agriculture during the growing season.

A trench can be dug out 7 inches deep, with one side perpendicular, and the cuttings should be laid against this straight side 6 inches apart.

Furthermore, he will whip out any plants that appear to be diseased, the moment the trouble is seen. Such plants will be burnt or, better still, put on to the compost heap, provided they are covered immediately with an activator like a fish fertilizer so that they can be properly rotted down and the heat thus engendered in the heap will kill the disease. Make up a compost consisting of 1 part sedge peat, 1 part silver sand and I part soil. See that the compost is somewhat damp and then crock and fill 3-inch pots.

Sink these into the soil right up to the rim all around healthy one-year-old ‘parent’ plants and as the runners develop peg them down into the centre of each pot. The moment the plantl.et has sent in its roots the stolen is severed at I inch beyond the pot. Then the young plant grows quite happily on its own. Plants raised in this way can be set in their new bed with the minimum of disturbance.

Furthermore, they can, if desired, be potted on into 6-inch pots in October of early November, and they can then be ‘forced’ by being placed on the staging of the greenhouse or, better still, on shelving near the light.

The best fruit trees to plant are ones that are two years old and 3 to 5 feet tall; not only do they survive transplanting better and take hold faster than older trees in your garden.