Planting Strawberries

This year I've decided to plant strawberries on my side burm. Last week I went out and bought 25 Everbearing strawberry plants called "All Star". They're supposed to be one of the hardier varieties . They've already bounced back since I planted them. both me and the kids are so looking forward to eating fresh strawberries next year!!!!!!!
For those of you who want to try and grow your own strawberry patch, I placed the directions on how to successfully plant them below.



Before planting;
Soak plants in water for about an hour but not more than 3 to 4 hours. Keep roots moist at all times and protect them from sun and wind. Choose a sunny spot.

Planting Distance;
Dig holes 1 1/2 to 2 feet apart in rows 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet apart.

Planting depth;
Make sure they are planted so the crown is just above ground level. If plants are too deep they will seldom amount to anything even though they may last all summer. If the plants are set too shallow, the top of the roots will be exposed to the air and dry out.
Fan out the roots, keeping them straight down. Don't double up the roots. If necessary, clip the roots an inch or two to avoid this.
Firm the soil around each plant and water well.


Removing Blossoms;
The first season, pinch off the blossoms to save the plant's strength. When you do this, your plants produce more runners and you'll get bigger crops in the following years.
With Everbearers the blossoms should be removed until the plants are well established. This will usually require about sixty days.

Cultivation;
After growth starts, cultivate every week until the strawberry bed is well established. Once or twice during the early growing season and again in mid August, apply about 1 lb per 80 sq. feet of fertilizer such as 10-6-4.
Cover your plants with 4-6 inches of straw after the ground freezes hard.
This can be raked aside and used as mulch the following season. A straw mulch will protect your bed in the winter and keep it moist and weed-free during the growing season.