Many strawberry growers are covering their plants with straw at the moment. This is not done in order to protect the strawberries against frost, but to delay the harvest time, says the Rheinische Landwirtschafts-Verband (RLV) in Bonn. The straw covering prevents sunbeams and higher temperatures from reaching the strawberry plants. In this way the winter is lengthened artificially for the plants.
The strawberry plants will clearly bud later after the straw has been removed and the harvest of ripe strawberries is postponed. In this way strawberry growers succeed in extending the strawberry season. From May consumers can purchase strawberries from the Rhineland again and taste the absolute freshness of the regionally grown product.
In 2011 an area of 2,510 HA was used to grow strawberries in Northrhine-Westfalia, as per figures published by the Bureau of Statistics of NRW. The main area of the strawberry cultivation was in the Rhineland, where strawberries are grown on
In 2011 an area of 2,510 HA was used to grow strawberries in Northrhine-Westfalia, as per figures published by the Bureau of Statistics of NRW. The main area of the strawberry cultivation was in the Rhineland, where strawberries are grown on
1,550 HA. The average German eats 3 kgs of fresh strawberries during the strawberry season.