Maine’s strawberry season is here, but just like any other crop, strawberries are weather dependent.
“This year’s strawberry crop is similar to a lot of crops right now, a bit delayed because of the cold temperatures that we’ve been having, and also not quite as much sunshine as we would normally expect,” explained Caleb Goossen of Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners.
Mother Nature wreaked havoc on some strawberry crops across the state in late May. An unexpected frost damaged many flowering crops.
“One cold night at the wrong time can really do a number,” said Mark Hutton of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. “In a lot of areas, we were down below 28°, and it came just at the time blossoms were developing, and so, even though that temperature is not cool enough to kill the plant, it is cold enough to kill the blossoms.”
Mark Hutton is a Vegetable Specialist for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. He says there are some injuries to this year’s crop, but not enough to be substantial.
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