Les Serres des Jardins in La Baie will offer a new range of products this week. The company who have specialised over 20 years in greenhouse flowers are launching Autumn strawberries.
An investment of almost $10,000 was needed to set up the trough growing method that is only known in Québec and Drummondville. “We have hundreds of plants in our greenhouses installed directly at eye level. It is ideal for self-harvesting,” explains horticultrice, Myreil Lavoie. During picking, until October, the greenhouses will be open in rotation because they need about a week for new strawberries to grow.
“We are really doing a test. If all goes as hoped, we should have 10,000 plants next year and install new greenhouses”. This year they will have 2,000 plants.
The aim is to keep the greenhouses lively when the flower season is over. “It really is a good idea, we can keep our specialised employees because they will be able to work with us over 6 months” and come back every year.
Greenhouse production has many advantages including protection from weather and insects. As for the strawberries, Autumn ones are always bigger and sweeter as they store more sugar.