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    Strawberry Slides Final

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    isabela
    Strawberries are Canada's favorite fruit, with the average Canadian eating 5 lbs per year. They are high in nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants. While not technically berries, strawberries are hybrids related to roses that are cultivated through runners rather than seeds. Growing strawberries organically requires careful consideration of site selection, soil preparation, frost protection, weed and pest control, and marketing. Successful organic strawberry production depends on maintaining healthy soil with adequate nitrogen, organic matter, and proper pH levels. Fields need rotation every 3-4 years and annual renovation to sustain high yields. Startup and maintenance costs are $2,500-$8,000 per acre depending on the system and labour requirements. Farmers can market

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Strawberry Slides Final

    Uploaded by

    isabela
    207 views50 pages
    Strawberries are Canada's favorite fruit, with the average Canadian eating 5 lbs per year. They are high in nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants. While not technically berries, strawberries are hybrids related to roses that are cultivated through runners rather than seeds. Growing strawberries organically requires careful consideration of site selection, soil preparation, frost protection, weed and pest control, and marketing. Successful organic strawberry production depends on maintaining healthy soil with adequate nitrogen, organic matter, and proper pH levels. Fields need rotation every 3-4 years and annual renovation to sustain high yields. Startup and maintenance costs are $2,500-$8,000 per acre depending on the system and labour requirements. Farmers can market

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    Strawberries are Canada's favorite fruit, with the average Canadian eating 5 lbs per year. They are high in nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants. While not technically berries, strawberries are hybrids related to roses that are cultivated through runners rather than seeds. Growing strawberries organically requires careful consideration of site selection, soil preparation, frost protection, weed and pest control, and marketing. Successful organic strawberry production depends on maintaining healthy soil with adequate nitrogen, organic matter, and proper pH levels. Fields need rotation every 3-4 years and annual renovation to sustain high yields. Startup and maintenance costs are $2,500-$8,000 per acre depending on the system and labour requirements. Farmers can market

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    207 views50 pages

    Strawberry Slides Final

    Uploaded by

    isabela
    Strawberries are Canada's favorite fruit, with the average Canadian eating 5 lbs per year. They are high in nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants. While not technically berries, strawberries are hybrids related to roses that are cultivated through runners rather than seeds. Growing strawberries organically requires careful consideration of site selection, soil preparation, frost protection, weed and pest control, and marketing. Successful organic strawberry production depends on maintaining healthy soil with adequate nitrogen, organic matter, and proper pH levels. Fields need rotation every 3-4 years and annual renovation to sustain high yields. Startup and maintenance costs are $2,500-$8,000 per acre depending on the system and labour requirements. Farmers can market

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 50

    How to Grow Strawberries

    the Organic Way

    Welcome

    Canadas Favourite Fruit


    Canadian growers
    produce
    approximately 24,000
    tonnes of
    strawberries, totaling
    sales of over
    $6,500,000 each
    year.
    Approximately 1% of
    these strawberries
    are grown organically.

    Why are strawberries the most


    popular fruit in Canada?
    The average Canadian eats almost 5
    lbs of strawberries per year
    High in fiber, low in fat
    Excellent source of vitamin C &
    Manganese
    Contain anti-oxidants
    Contain phenols, linked to reduced
    risk of osteoarthritis, asthma and
    atherosclerosis

    Modern strawberries were first cultivated in


    France in the 1750s. They were produced by
    crossing sweet, flavourful Alpine strawberries
    with very large, less tender strawberries from
    Chile.

    Strawberries are not really berries; they are


    related to roses. Since they are a hybrid,
    modern strawberries cannot be grown from
    seed.

    Will strawberries grow in


    Atlantic Canada?

    YES!!

    Considerations for Organic


    Production
    Cultivation
    Site Selection
    Frost Considerations
    Soil Preparation &
    Maintenance
    Selection of Growing
    System & Variety
    Cultivation Practices

    Business
    Start up and
    transitioning costs
    Labour
    Type of Operation
    Marketing

    Transitioning to Organic

    Site Selection

    Soil
    Slope
    Winter Conditions
    Frost
    Previous crops
    Water supply

    Frost Protection can mean the difference


    between a bumper crop and no crop
    Risks year round
    Early Frost -Plants
    blossom blossoms
    freeze
    Late frost berries freeze
    or plants are damaged
    before dormancy
    Winter frost crack plants

    Frost Protection Site Selection

    Strawberries should be located on ground with some


    elevation so colder air will flow away from the
    berries and protect them from frost.
    South facing slopes lead to increased frost damage as
    plants tend to blossom too early. Plants on west
    facing slopes are often damaged by strong, drying
    winter winds

    Strawberry Fact

    The Algonkian Indians of


    north eastern North
    America identify and
    name the full moos
    based on natural cycles.
    The sixth moon in a year
    is the Strawberry Moon

    The Soil

    It all begins with the


    soil
    Rob Wallbridge of
    Songberry Farm,
    Bristol, PQ

    Healthy soil is teeming with


    organisms that aerate the soil and
    release Nitrogen

    Soil Testing

    pH Levels
    Soil acidity, or pH, affects
    a plants ability to take
    up and make use of
    minerals and other
    compounds.
    Soil acidity partially
    dictates the levels of
    other nutrients necessary
    for strawberries to grow,
    develop roots, runners
    and fruit.

    Soil & Fertility Requirements


    Nitrogen
    Organic matter
    Minerals and
    micro-nutrients

    Nitrogen
    Adequate levels
    of nitrogen are
    necessary for
    photosynthesis
    and the
    production of
    plant proteins
    and enzymes

    N How much is enough?


    Necessary at all stages
    throughout the year
    500 1500 ppm of Nitrate
    Mineral content of soil
    and amount of organic
    matter
    Too little - stunted growth
    low yields
    Too much - lush growth,
    poor air circulation disease

    Organic Matter
    Adequate organic
    matter is essential
    for the growth of
    healthy plants and
    the development of
    runners and fruit

    Minerals & Micro-Nutrients

    Phosphorus
    Potassium
    Calcium
    Manganese
    Iron
    Zinc
    Boron

    Improve the Quality of Your


    Soil

    Strawberry Fact
    The 16th century English
    believed that a
    strawberry shaped
    birthmark was a sign of
    being a witch. Anne
    Boleyn, second wife of
    King Henry, had such a
    birthmark one factor
    that led to her
    beheading!

    Cultivation Basics

    Field Preparation
    Planting
    Mulch
    Irrigation
    Renovation &
    Rotation
    Pest Control

    Anatomy of a Strawberry
    Plant

    Preparing New Fields


    Year 1
    Late Summer / Early Fall
    Plow
    Test soil and adjust PH levels
    Plant a winter cover crop (early September)

    Year 2
    Spring
    Till in the fall cover crop
    Amend soil based on soil test results
    Fall
    Plant cover crops
    Test soil

    Year 3
    Spring
    Amend soil based on soil tests
    Plant oats as early as possible
    Till in oats & plant strawberries
    Remove first blossoms (June bearing varieties)

    Planting
    Choose only
    vibrant healthy
    plants
    Plant early or late
    in the day if the
    weather is hot
    Keep plants in a
    bucket of water
    until planted
    Soak in with
    compost tea or
    water

    Mulch

    Weed Control

    How to Control Weeds

    Carefully prepared site and soil


    Mulch or black plastic
    Hand weeding
    Weeder geese
    Mechanic weeding
    Thermoweeding

    Disease Control
    Diseases may occur when one or more
    of the following factors are present:
    Pathogens are present in the air, soil
    or new plants
    Environmental Conditions are right
    Variety
    Susceptibility

    Disease Control Factors

    Soil fertility and health


    Drainage and irrigation
    Air circulation
    Mulch
    Removal & destruction of diseased
    plants
    Field monitoring
    Sanitation
    Foliar application of compost or

    Pest Control

    Cultivation Calendar

    Strawberry Fact
    The word strawberry
    comes from Old English.
    Some historians believe
    that the name comes
    from the centuries old
    practice of growing
    strawberries on straw
    mulch; others believe it
    is because the daughter
    plants are strewn over
    the ground.

    Varieties and Growing


    Systems
    June-Bearing

    Matted Row
    System

    Everbearing (Day
    Neutral)

    Hill System

    Alpine (Fraises du
    The perfect strawberry doesnt exist.
    Bois)
    They seem to be very specific in terms
    of how well they do. Grow at least four
    varieties. Find out what you like, and
    what your customers like.

    Matted Row System June


    Bearing

    Day Neutral or Everbearing

    Alpine Strawberries

    Wild strawberries
    from Alps
    Prized for flavour
    Will grow from
    seed

    Renovation or Rotation

    Renovate
    when you
    intend to keep
    the same
    plants in
    production
    the following
    year.

    Rotate when
    yields become
    low, plants
    are diseased
    or weeds are
    out of control

    Strawberry Fact
    The word strawberry
    comes from Old English.
    Some historians believe
    that the name comes
    from the centuries old
    practice of growing
    strawberries on straw
    mulch; others believe it
    is because the daughter
    plants are strewn over
    the ground.

    Business Considerations
    Start up and
    maintenance costs
    Labour Costs
    Marketing

    Costs per Acre to Establish &


    Maintain Fields
    Cost to establish field over 1 to 2 years
    (Including site preparation, plants, labour)
    $2500 $4000
    Maintenance Costs per year
    (labour, planted 4 years or more)
    $6500 $8000
    Profit

    $2000 - $6000

    The Greatest Variable Labour

    What factors will affect your


    labour needs?
    Weed pressure
    Condition of the soil
    Type of growing system
    Type of marketing
    Livestock for manure

    Strawberry Fact
    Some people in Bavaria
    still believe that elves
    love to eat strawberries.
    They tie baskets of ripe
    berries to the horns of
    their dairy cattle as an
    offering to elves, and for
    assurance of an
    abundant supply of milk.

    Marketing

    Farm Gate
    Farmers Market
    U-Pick
    CSA
    Wholesale
    Value Added
    Products (jam,
    baking, etc.)

    Transitioning to Organic

    Cold Turkey

    Field by Field

    Questions or comments?

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