North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Mark & Helen Angermayer" <hangermayer@isp.com>]

Jim,

I've tried covering and not covering.  In either case it doesn't actually
kill the plants.  In other words at least they come back from the roots.
It's just that when they are covered for winter and then uncovered in
spring, there is plenty of leafy green foliage and the plants look healthy.
This winter I didn't cover and the whole patch is brown with some bits of
small green foliage.  I think the plants will bounce back, but they sure
look better when covered.  It's hard for me to imagine any green foliage on
strawberries that suffer temps you have in MN.  On the other hand, we have
warm-cold-freeze-thaw-on and on, all through most winters.  Maybe that's
harder on strawberries than the solid cold of MN.  Like you, I believe
strongly in soil fertility.  However, I'll admit I haven't specifically
checked the fertility of the strawberry patch.  I've checked the fertility
of the orchard area for the last two years though, but didn't check the
strawberries because I thought it would probably have similar analysis as
the orchard area since there're fairly close and the soil structure appears
similar.

Mark
KS

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Fruth" <>
To: "NAFEX" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 8:02 AM
Subject: [NAFEX] So close....strawberries


> Mark wrote, " My conclusion: people up north, even though it's colder, get
> plenty of snow to insulate their plants."
>
> Mark,
>     A year ago, I got no snow here in North Central Minnesota.  The frost
> penetrated down 6', more is some places.  I hadn't covered my
strawberries;
> I never do. The plants were just as healthy as ever and I got the same
> amount of berries that I normally get.  Honestly, I don't know what all
the
> fuss is about with people thinking they need to cover their strawberry
> plants.  You know, it is really difficult to kill a strawberry plant.
>     Could it be......................I have a soil test done every year to
> keep my strawberries at optimal fertility.  Could it be that strawberry
> patches that aren't maintained at proper levels of fertility are the ones
> that need winter protection?  Possibility?
>
> Jim Fruth
> Brambleberry Farm
> Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
> For jams, jellies & syrups:
> www.bberryfarm.com
> (877)265-6856 [Store]
> (218)831-7018 [My Cell]
>
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