Warmest May on record leaves strawberries ripe for the picking
Strawberry season has officially arrived, thanks to warm, dry conditions in May.
Rob Galey of Galey Farms, who has about eight hectares of strawberries on his Saanich land, said it’s been “great berry weather” of late, with more likely on the way.
“I’m actually, coincidentally, bent over and eating strawberries right now,” he said with a laugh when contacted on the weekend. “Of course, you have to have quality control.”
Picking started Thursday, so there are already plenty of strawberries in the farm’s store at 4150 Blenkinsop Rd., said Galey, noting the entire south Island is known as a hotbed for strawberries.
Galey said customers have been calling the farm “non-stop” for quite some time asking when strawberries will be ready.
The fruit available now represents early varieties, but more are on the way, he said. “We’ll have strawberries all summer long and into the fall.”
Farmer Dan Ponchet in Saanichton said he started picking strawberries a week ago, and expects the height of the season to be in another 10 to 14 days. “It’s going quite well so far.”
Like Galey, he appreciated the weather in May, noting the dryness likely helped keep the berries from getting mouldy. “They have such a sugar content in them that they can get mouldy in no time.”
The warmth also gave the berries a growth burst, said Ponchet, who has about three and a half hectares devoted to strawberries, which he sells at Dan’s Farm & Country Market, 2030 Bear Hill Rd.
Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan said May was the warmest on record for the capital region since temperature and precipitation began being tracked at the Gonzales weather station in Victoria in 1875.
The average mean temperature was 14.3 C, almost two degrees more than the typical 12.1.
The 14.2 millimetres of rain that fell at Gonzales in May was about 55 per cent of normal. Victoria International Airport, meanwhile, saw only 30.9 per cent of normal May rainfall with 11.6 mm.
Castellan said June temperatures will likely continue to be above usual levels. Highs of 18 C and lows of 9 C are normal, but this week is forecast to see temperatures in the mid 20s C.