With Alberta's cold winters posing challenges for outdoor strawberry production, growers are being reminded that fall is the critical time to prepare for the next season. At a recent Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association (AFFPA) webinar, Richard Staples from The Jungle Farm in Innisfail shared practical guidance for producers planning their 2025 strawberry crop.
Staples emphasized that plant procurement must begin in autumn. "Some of the nurseries even like it earlier so they can know a year out what they need to produce. But in the fall is definitely when I think the majority of farms start to get their orders in for next year," he said. Early orders also improve access to bulk discounts and preferred varieties.
Nurseries across Canada and the United States supply planting material, with Staples naming operations in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and the U.S. West Coast as reliable options. Orders should be finalized by the end of November to ensure availability.
Mulching before freeze-up is another essential task. Straw remains the most common and cost-effective option for insulating plants through winter. "It has one of the better insulation factors of the different straws that are out there," Staples noted, referring specifically to soft white wheat straw. Depending on the operation size, growers should calculate straw requirements per hectare, with The Jungle Farm typically using 10 to 15 large six-foot round bales. Some producers use pine straw or row covers as alternatives.
Staples also advised securing fertilizer, pesticides, and irrigation equipment during the fall. His farm applies organic fertilizers in-season through drip irrigation, sourcing supplies from regional cooperatives and agricultural retailers in Calgary. "We've had good luck dealing with them to get different liquid fertilizers or some of the specialty granular (fertilizers) for going through drip irrigation," he said.
For crop protection, most pesticides approved for strawberries overlap with those used on canola, simplifying access through local dealers. Experts note that 15 to 20 herbicides are available to strawberry producers, depending on crop needs.
Packaging supplies should also be arranged ahead of the harvest season. While u-pick operations encourage customers to bring their own containers, Staples said farms should still keep pails, baskets, or clamshells on hand.
Finally, growers are urged to follow beneficial management practices (BMPs) such as crop rotation to prevent verticillium wilt. Provincial guidelines advise against planting strawberries after solanaceous crops or alfalfa and recommend allowing at least two years between strawberry plantings. Aligning rows parallel to prevailing winds can also promote faster drying of foliage and fruit, reducing disease risk.
Source: Alberta Farmer