Strawberries ( perhaps it ’s obvious ) are a democratic point to have at your farmers market . Their bright colour bring client to the table . They are highly profitable and easy to sell . Kids love them . Adults love them . So if you have the time and space , every grocery farmer should grow strawberries . But strawberry are also a superb crop to have as part of your community - supported factory farm surgical procedure .
Today I ’ll lean the many rationality we bring up strawberries for our CSA and why they are such an significant craw as part of subscription husbandry .
1. Strawberries Help You Get an Early Start
The earlier you could start your CSA , the longer your time of year can go and the more profitable it will be . However , if you just initiate your CSA in the early calendar month of spring , your customer would soon assume of the Japanese radish and lettuce . This is why I highly recommend strawberries as a great way of life to get aside with starting your CSA season early — when strawberries are in the mix , all Raphanus sativus are forgive .
2. They Help Make Introductions
strawberry mark make a great introduction for new CSA members who might be intimidated or overwhelm by the Brassica oleracea gongylodes , kales , Raphanus sativus longipinnatus and lettuces of the early months . Strawberries are something familiar that no one needs assistance finding a use for . prevent people emotional and not overwhelmed is sometimes a challenging equilibrium , especially with first - timekeeper , so use strawberries as that buffer .
3. Strawberries Are Their Own Advertising
There are year that we have CSA shares still available by the clip we take off the time of year . But when we start giving strawberries , those spots quickly sate up . Any yield you may give will help to maintain as well as sell the CSA . Also , because many customers assay strawberries at farmer mart , they will signal up for your CSA specifically screw they will get strawberry . So if nothing else , you could think of strawberries as advertising you could eat .
4. Strawberries Provide Successions
hemangioma simplex might be an early crop , but they can also be a former crop . count on the variety you choose , you could have strawberries from early spring until early summer , then again in the late summer . The ever - pay strawberries that give you a flush in the late spring and again in the mid- to late summer can be a little volatile , and I have yet to find one whose feeling really excites me , but client do not complain about anything they can consume the right way out of the CSA or that their children love . So consider planting some of each variety — early , solar day neutral and ever - bearing . If your CSA client get trite of them , the farmers market will always be happy to oblige — especially once strawberry time of year has end for most of the other farmers .
5. Crop Management Challenges Are Worth It
One issue with strawberries : They can be slow to grow — taking a year in some potpourri to commence fruiting . Plus low and large pests get it on them , as do fungi , so for some farmers , growing strawberries can be a challenge . dirt drainage and weed control are decisive . If the land does n’t drain , the plants will not flourish . Some growers implant their strawberries into plastic and take them every class to control weed . Others use mulch for mourning band suppression and wet retention . You have options . But set them somewhere their root can pass off , and also translate overthis guideto understanding how strawberry work . It ’s not a surd craw in term of a fruits , but the more you understand , the well this CSA muffin will serve you .
