Managing the Crop

Strawberry plants grow vigorously under protection and leaf growth can shade developing fruits.

The leaves should be held back from the fruiting trusses behind strings running along both sides of the row. A number of the fruit trusses will have to be eased out below the strings and as the fruit develops the trusses will hang clear of the leaf canopy. This allows good air movement around the fruit which gives improved disease control and makes picking easy as the fruit is clearly visible. Ripening is also more uniform.

All runners developing before harvest should be removed. If runners are left on the plants they will compete for water, nutrients and light and cause a reduction to yield.