In this month's update on the day-neutral strawberry research in Northern Illinois, Grant McCarty, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator for University of Illinois, discusses how yields are looking and some of the challenges he is still noticing in the research.
Why grow annual strawberries compared to June-bearing/perennial berries? Grant McCarty, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, explains reasons for his day-neutral strawberry research and what he has seen so far from last year's harvest. More conclusive recommendations will be coming in...
As we wait for strawberries to develop, the weekly management is focused on removing the runners, extensions of the main strawberry plant. Some fruit and flowers have currently appeared which should mean yields of berries in 4-6 weeks.
In week 7 of our day-neutral strawberry research, runners have appeared. These extensions of the plant are encouraged when growing perennial strawberries but as an annual strawberry we need to remove these.
Day-neutral strawberries are grown as an annual in Northern Illinois, planted as bare roots the first week of May with harvest into Halloween. In the 2nd year of this on-farm research, Grant McCarty, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, discuss what's happened so far, goals for this...
Day-neutral or annual strawberry plants should have their flowers-fruit removed the first 6 weeks in order for the plant to focus on root-development. After 6 weeks, allow for the fruit and flowers to develop.