Planting operations

• Remove weeks and stubbles.
• Since most of its roots are confined in top 40 cm soil, the soil should be made friable.
• Deep cultivation improves water absorption by the crop.
• Soil should be fumigated before planting to control fungal diseases, particularly verticillium wilt.
• Soil fumigation with a mixture of methyl bromide
• September-October is ideal of planting runners or crowns in hilly areas.
• Fruit buds are established during the fall of the first season.
• In temperate humid regions, planting can be done in spring. If the weather is undesirable, plants can be stored in polythene bags at 31-32⁰ C until conditions are favourable. Cold storage plants usually grow as well as freshly dug field plants.

Planting time

• Sep- oct is ideal time for planting
• They give quality fruits in spring
• Store runners in 00 C during summer and plant in October.