STRAWBERRY Q&A WITH BOMAN ZAKERI

Do strawberries ripen after being picked?

Not so much – strawberries ripen very little once off the plant.

Ridges & plastic – or not?

if you live in a chilly part of the country, growing on ridges will help warm your soil. if you live in a hot, dry part of the country, ridging will get your plants off to a quick start, but you’ll need to focus on adequate watering as the season progresses. While plastic isn’t so much necessary for warming the soil, it will prevent rain splashing soil onto the fruit.

Do strawberries have a single flush?

although strawberry plants do reach a period of peak production, they slowly build up to it and also slowly tail off. As they do so, they crop for a period of three to six months, depending on variety and climatic conditions.

Acid or sweet?

strawberries may be sweet, but they prefer acid soils with a ph of 5.5–6. Zaberri treats its bore water to lower ph levels in the hydroponically managed polytunnels.

What’s the best way to pick?

Strawberries hold better if picked with 1–2cm of stem still attached to the fruit. the little bit of nutrient in this section of stem keeps the berry fresher for longer.

Should I thin my berries?

Pinch out the first flowers on plants. This allows the plant to first put its energy into growing, rather than fruit production.

How should I store my strawberries?

Once off the plant, berries should be kept chilled if they are not being consumed right away.