Despite the extreme drought, the strawberry harvest in Thuringia this season was unusually good, according to various strawberry farmers.
"We had a much larger crop than usual because there were no late frosts in May this year," said Daniela Hoch of Christians strawberry farm in the Rhön, that also has six strawberry fields in Thuringia near the Bavarian town of Mellrichstadt. Strawberry gardeners in the east and north of Thuringia were also satisfied.
The abundant amounts of fruit also had some disadvantages, said Hoch. In some areas the fruit started to rot, especially those varieties that carry larger quantities.
The harvest began at the end of May - earlier than usual. "We expected it to be a shorter season due to the high temperatures, but that has not been been the case," Hoch said.
After about six weeks of harvesting, on Thursday the family business closed the last field for pick-your-own customers in Teutleben near Hörsel (Gotha district). Because of the drought, the fields have been watered regularly, Hoch said. Christians Erdbeerhof cultivates strawberry fields in Thuringia; in Witzelroda (Wartburg circle), Eischleben (Ilm circle), Teutleben and bath Blankenburg (Saalfeld-Rudolstadt).
The heat on the strawberry fields of Kindelbrücker (district of Sömmerda) in the meantime has severely damaged the plants, despite the use of irrigation. "On many days the plants had drooping leaves," said Elisabeth Schneider. However, in the end, she claims, it was a 'bumper harvest', especially on the two hectares of pick-your-own fields.
On plants of the remaining seven hectares, some strawberries had to remain. "The heat in late May has allowed too many fruits to mature at the same time," Schneider said. But there was no problem with rot, because of the dryness. "The fruits just got overripe and they would have been great for strawberry wine." At the end of June for Kindelbrücker the harvest was over.
In East Thuringia, Erdbeerhof Funck had to fight the drought in some places. There are no irrigation systems in the fields. "It has become an average crop," says Claudia Funck. The berries were rather small. "But they were very sweet, with an intense taste."
Source: Proplanta
"We had a much larger crop than usual because there were no late frosts in May this year," said Daniela Hoch of Christians strawberry farm in the Rhön, that also has six strawberry fields in Thuringia near the Bavarian town of Mellrichstadt. Strawberry gardeners in the east and north of Thuringia were also satisfied.
The abundant amounts of fruit also had some disadvantages, said Hoch. In some areas the fruit started to rot, especially those varieties that carry larger quantities.
The harvest began at the end of May - earlier than usual. "We expected it to be a shorter season due to the high temperatures, but that has not been been the case," Hoch said.
After about six weeks of harvesting, on Thursday the family business closed the last field for pick-your-own customers in Teutleben near Hörsel (Gotha district). Because of the drought, the fields have been watered regularly, Hoch said. Christians Erdbeerhof cultivates strawberry fields in Thuringia; in Witzelroda (Wartburg circle), Eischleben (Ilm circle), Teutleben and bath Blankenburg (Saalfeld-Rudolstadt).
The heat on the strawberry fields of Kindelbrücker (district of Sömmerda) in the meantime has severely damaged the plants, despite the use of irrigation. "On many days the plants had drooping leaves," said Elisabeth Schneider. However, in the end, she claims, it was a 'bumper harvest', especially on the two hectares of pick-your-own fields.
On plants of the remaining seven hectares, some strawberries had to remain. "The heat in late May has allowed too many fruits to mature at the same time," Schneider said. But there was no problem with rot, because of the dryness. "The fruits just got overripe and they would have been great for strawberry wine." At the end of June for Kindelbrücker the harvest was over.
In East Thuringia, Erdbeerhof Funck had to fight the drought in some places. There are no irrigation systems in the fields. "It has become an average crop," says Claudia Funck. The berries were rather small. "But they were very sweet, with an intense taste."
Source: Proplanta