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| NC Strawberry growers can be sourced by visiting: http://www.ncagr.com/markets/commodit/horticul/strawber/ . |
By Michelle Wallace, NC Consumer Horticultural Agent
Every year I look
forward to picking strawberries with my kids. Fresh, ripe, juicy sweet
strawberries can not be beat. The first time I took my daughter picking, I felt
that the farmer should have weighed her before we began. I am sure she gained a
half a pound from start to finish.
You may be
interested to know a little bit about what is involved in growing strawberries.
Commercial strawberry producers in North Carolina primarily grow two different
varieties of strawberries, Chandler and Camarosa. These are different than the
varieties of strawberries grown by homeowners primarily because these varieties
are annual
(live one season) as opposed to perennial
strawberries (which come back ever year). The reason most strawberry farmers
raise annual strawberries instead of perennial strawberries is primarily due to
the quantity, quality and consistency of fruit, as well as disease management
of the field.
There is a lot of
work involved in producing strawberries. This work begins literally right after
the strawberry harvest is over. In July, farmers remove the plastic raised bed
covers, drip irrigation pipes, and the picked over strawberry plants. Soil
preparation begins for next year’s crop. By August, the soil is tilled. New
raised beds are created and covered with drip irrigation pipes and black
plastic. The raised beds are fumigated to sterilize the soil and prevent
disease from destroying the crop. By early October, the new strawberry starter
plants are planted. At this time, the strawberries must be regularly scouted
for insects like spider mites and for disease. The first application of
fertilizer is administered to promote root development over the winter months.
The next several months are devoted to monitoring growth and to frost
protection.
While strawberry plants are fairly hardy, our weather can throw a
curve ball in the growing season. Some years, temperatures can get as warm as
70 degrees in January and a couple days later drop down to close to freezing.
Warm temperatures can cause strawberries to develop and mature too soon. Early
flowering is not desirable since we are plagued with late season frosts. In
addition, most strawberry growers want to ensure a long picking season and want
the crown development of the plants to be staggered so that the berries do not
develop and ripen all at once. Frost protection can involve the use of overhead
irrigation and or row covers. Overhead irrigation for frost protection is
applied only when the dew point at the flower bud is just above freezing.
Irrigation must persist as long as the temperatures are at or lower than
freezing. The evaporative cooling process keeps the temperature of the plants
above freezing and ensures that the flower buds will survive. Row covers can
also be used for frost protection. Row covers are laid over the raised beds and
secured into place. Once temperatures are above freezing, they must be removed
to ensure pollination. This can translate into a lot of labor since row covers
may need to be placed and removed several times over the course of a week. By
March, strawberry fields must be fertilized again. Scouting for insects and
diseases is critical and bi-weekly plant tissue analysis samples are submitted
to the NCDA (North Carolina Department of Agriculture) to ensure a successful
fertigation* schedule for the plants. By mid April the first edible berries
begin to appear – almost a whole year after they were first planted. The next
couple of months are Strawberry Picking Season.
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| Strawberries are edibles for everyone! |
While the Triangle
region is growing by leaps and bounds you may be surprised to discover that
there are several local farms that grow strawberries. All of these farms are
pick your own operations and several of them offer pre-picked strawberries for
those of you who are in a hurry. For those of you who have the time, this is a
great outdoor family outing. There is nothing like freshly picked locally grown
strawberries. This year, take some time to pick some berries, eat some berries,
make strawberry pies, ice-cream, or jam. Most of all make some happy family
memories and traditions that you will cherish over the years.
For information
about the local strawberry growers in your region contact the Durham County
Master Gardeners at 919-560-0528 or search http://www.ncagr.com/markets/commodit/horticul/strawber/ .
*(According to
Wikipedia) Fertigation is the application of fertilizers, soil
amendments, or other water soluble products through an irrigation system.
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