Although strawberry season only lasts a few weeks in the summer, strawberry farmers work difficult all year round. It all starts in the middle of winter for owners Duane and Kathy Brandner Replacement farm near Osseo, Wisconsin. Duane and Kathy go to a conference each winter to learn more about strawberries and connect with other farmers. Around this time of year, they order recent strawberry plants, make plans for the upcoming season and update their customer address book.
Spring brings recent life to the strawberry fields. Before planting recent strawberry seedlings, prepare the soil in each field. A planting machine is pulled behind the tractor and an additional person sits on it. This person will load the plants into a pot to place them in the soil.
Since strawberries are planted in the first half of May, there is still a risk of frost at night. To prevent the plants from freezing, Duane and Kathy run the irrigation system overnight until the risk of frost has passed. A constant flow of water onto the plants protects them from damage.
After a few weeks of planting the plants, some will begin to bloom with petite white flowers. If the flowers continued to develop into berries, it would consume too much energy to grow the adolescent plant. Therefore, the flowers are cut in the first year of the plant’s life. Duane, Kathy and the farm workers walk along each row and trim the flowers with scissors. Pruning thousands of flowers can be tiring work, but it ensures that mature plants will bloom in the future.
When they begin to develop shoots, which look like vines growing from the plant, they should be arranged in a single line so that the plants form a straight row. This also protects the skids from damage when cultivating the soil between the rows. Young plants that go through this entire process are in their emergence year and will not start producing strawberries until they are one year elderly.
The process for mature plants is not as tedious as for emerging plants. They should be protected from frost, watered frequently and sprayed with a fungicide. Duane and Kathy are certified in fungicide applications. This will prevent the plants from developing a fungus that causes strawberries to rot.
Around the last week of June, the strawberries are ready for picking. Foster Farms offers pre-harvested and pick-your-own berries. The fields are lined with petite orange flags that indicate where each person finished picking. Managing a field on harvest day requires mental organization and a keen eye, especially when there are many pickers. After a few weeks, the strawberries slowly wilt and the harvest season comes to an end. Soon after, the herbicide was applied and the rows were mowed. This is called renovation. The next season the plants will grow back and produce strawberries. Each field can grow strawberries for an average of four years.
The rest of the summer is devoted to caring for adolescent plants. To survive, they need a lot of water, sunlight and fertilizers. Weed control also plays a huge role in farm chores during the summer. Duane and Kathy typically recruit college and high school kids to lend a hand with this process.
“This is a great opportunity for us to teach them the value of hard work and the process of growing strawberries,” Duane said. “Many kids love coming back every summer to help on the farm.”
As the days get colder and fall approaches, a layer of straw is placed over the berries to protect them from the harsh winters. This is where the name strawberries comes from. In summer, straw is also used to control weeds between the rows.
Although the process of growing strawberries requires dedication and difficult work, Duane and Kathy find it rewarding to see their customers enjoy their product.
“Families make the farm a fun place to spend time with the family while picking fresh strawberries for all to enjoy,” added Duane.
As strawberry season approaches, search for berries near you to support your local strawberry farmer!
