When To Plant Strawberries In California

Summer planting systems are used in the Central Valley and the north coastal region of California. Here, plants are planted from August in inland areas to October on the coast, using plants dug from the previous winter that were stored at 28° F.

What month is best to plant strawberries in California?

Middle to late August generally is the best time to plant strawberries in all locations. Day-neutral cultivars also can be planted in the fall or in February and March.

Can I grow strawberries year round in California?

It’s almost always strawberry season in California. Farmers produce up to four million trays per week at the beginning of April and up to 9 million trays per week by May. California strawberry farmers are ready to capitalize annually on rising demand for the fruit during holidays such as Easter, and throughout the summer, when consumption of strawberries is highest.

What makes California such a great region for growing and harvesting strawberries, and how big is the market? Let’s find out! The Perfect Climate for Strawberries California supplies over 90% of America’s strawberries and the percentage is likely to increase. Part of the reason is the state’s Mediterranean-like climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Moderate temperatures year-round with sunny days and cool, humid nights create the perfect conditions for growing strawberries. Unlike Florida, the second strawberry-producing state in the US, where the berries can be harvested between March and November, California has a 12-month growing season.

The climate and extended growing season make California’s fields extremely productive. About 75% of all California strawberries produced each year are harvested for the fresh fruit market, and 25% are frozen for the processed fruit market. While the majority of fresh California strawberries are sold in the United States, 16% are exported to Canada, Mexico, Japan and Hong Kong.

Strawberry Acreage Is Increasing There are about 52,700 acres in the United States dedicated to growing and harvesting strawberries, with California holding the vast majority of it – 38,200 acres, The earliest California strawberries are produced in Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, where the harvest spans from January through May, with the peak of the season being in April.

1. The Oxnard region (Ventura County), known for its Strawberry Festival, produces fresh strawberries from January through June.
2. Northern regions, such as Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara and Fresno counties, start shipping in April with the peak of the season being in May and June.
3. The Size of the Market The United States produces more than 1.6 billion pounds of strawberries annually, valued at nearly $3.5 billion.

The value of the strawberry market in California is estimated at about $2.34 billion and is considered among the most valuable crop s in the state, along with dairy, grapes, almonds, cattle and calves and pistachios. Good marketing also plays a role in the size of the market.

1. California Strawberry Commission launched a marketing campaign, “Snack with Heart,” aimed at encouraging consumption and connecting the heart of the farmers with the hearts of consumers.
2. Using social media and digital media combined with influencer partnerships, the marketing campaign highlights the health benefits of California strawberries, to increase consumption.

Are You Ready to Enter the Market? California strawberries seem to be a good agribusiness investment. They produce a large amount of fruit and require only a modest amount of land to grow. The mild California climate makes it possible to harvest this crop almost all year round.

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Call Laura Maffei at (209) 679-9244 or (805) 692-4394, or John Lozano at (209) 598-6056. « Back to all Articles

What is the best strawberry plant for California?

Sequoia (June-Bearing) – These strawberries produce fruit from late spring through Autumn. The berries start out firm but soften as they enlarge. The rather large, dark red fruit are simply tasty. Resistant to powdery mildew. Sequoia strawberry plants are widely adapted and recommended for California gardens.

Can you grow strawberries in California winter?

Planting systems In southern California, Winter plantings made from late October through December use current season’s plants shortly after they are harvested from high-elevation nurseries. Because winters are mild, plants begin to grow immediately and fruit quite soon after planting.

How do you overwinter strawberries in California?

Winterizing Strawberry Plants Protecting strawberry plants from winter’s cold temperatures is vital to ensure a crop of juicy berries next year. Winterizing strawberry plants isn’t difficult or expensive. It’s actually an easy chore on your garden to-do list.

1. Learn tips for winterizing strawberry plants.
2. By the time fall frosts arrive, strawberry plants have already set buds for next spring’s flowers.
3. Temperatures below 15° F can damage those new buds and diminish your berry crop next year.
4. This is why it’s vital to winterize strawberry plants and protect them from cold winter air.

Another reason to protect plants is that, when soil repeatedly freezes and thaws, it tends to push plants up. This process is called heaving and puts plants at risk in several ways. First, it can expose plant crowns to drying air, freezing air temperatures and hungry critters looking for a winter meal.

• Second, heaving can break roots, allowing them to be lifted completely out of soil.
• Either results in plant damage or death.
• Winterizing strawberry plants helps prevent heaving.
• Winterizing strawberry plants simply involves heaping mulch over plants so they’re not exposed to cold winter air.
• The trick is knowing when to apply the mulch.

You want to cover plants when they’re fully dormant. Cover too soon, and plants may fail to harden off, which means they’ll definitely be damaged by cold air. A too-soon mulch also risks rotting plant crowns. It’s safe to apply winterizing mulch to strawberry plants when the top one-half inch of soil has frozen and daytime temperatures stay consistently in the 20s.

In mild winter areas, apply mulch once soil temperatures hit 40° F for three days in a row. Definitely winterize strawberry plants before temperatures dip below 20° F. Precise timing varies depending on region. Fine-tune the timing with a call to your local extension office. To winterize strawberry plants, heap a loose mulch over plants to a depth of 3 to 5 inches.

Use a material that won’t compact heavily. Good choices include straw, clean hay, bark chips, chopped cornstalks or cobs, evergreen branches or pine straw. Materials like leaves or grass clippings aren’t a good choice because they tend to mat. After mulch settles, it should still provide a 2- to 3-inch depth for best protection.

• Using a frost blanket to winterize strawberry plants is another great choice because it allows light to reach plants, which results in more flower buds being formed.
• The tricky part is that plants experience faster flower development in spring, which means they’ll be at greater risk for cold damage if you fail to protect plants when a late-season frost is predicted.

To winterize strawberry plants in a pyramid, apply mulch 6 to 8 inches deep. Wrap large strawberry pots or barrels with burlap and/or bubble wrap and stuff the top opening with straw 6 to 8 inches deep. Move strawberry jars into an unheated garage for winter.

When should I plant strawberries in Southern California?

When To Plant Strawberries In California – Strawberries are hardy, cold-tolerant plants that can be planted outdoors in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This is usually several weeks before the last frost date, which in California is around:

• Zone 5: April 9th
• Zone 6: March 31st
• Zone 7: March 13th
• Zone 8: March 7th
• Zone 9: February 7th
• Zone 10: January 1st

Planting strawberries early in the spring allows the plants to establish their roots and become stronger before the summer heat arrives. While strawberries can be damaged by extremely cold frost, they are generally quite resilient and can tolerate a certain amount of cold weather.

1. In fact, some varieties of strawberries, such as everbearing or day-neutral varieties, are specifically bred to tolerate cooler temperatures and can even produce fruit in the fall in some regions.
2. It’s still important to be mindful of the weather and protect your plants from frost if necessary.
3. You can cover your strawberry plants with blankets or other protective coverings if a frost is expected.

Additionally, if you live in an area with a short growing season, you may want to consider planting strawberries in containers or raised beds that can be moved indoors if necessary.

What town in California is famous for strawberries?

A long history of strawberry farming – David A Litman/Shutterstock Although Oxnard has been an agricultural hub since the 1870s, when an influx of European immigrants arrived, the strawberry industry began to flourish there after World War II. Some farms that still exist in Oxnard go back as far as the 1960s — such as Glen Hasegawa’s, who shared with California Strawberries his grandfather built a 15-acre farm that has since turned into a 600-acre operation.

Why are California strawberries so large?

SeeCalifornia.com Have you been to a farmers market in California during the past several weeks? The strawberries are so big, they are the size of small apples! Sweet, juicy, and delicious, these monster berries are one of the finest crops in recent years.

• And people are licking them up with delight.
• The strawberry season in California is one of the most exciting times for those who love these bright red berries, and this year you’ll have plenty to celebrate.
• In addition to a crop that can’t be beat, festivals in California pay homage to the delightful California crop, the strawberry.

California is the nation’s leading producer of strawberries and over 1.5 billion pounds of strawberries are produced annually, roughly 88% percent of the country’s total fresh and frozen strawberry production. With California’s unique coastal climate in which western ocean exposure provides moderate temperatures year round with warm sunny days and cool nights, the perfect combination for growing delicious, beautiful strawberries make this the Berry Capital of the U.S.

• And perhaps the World! Strawberry shipments begin around February and peak around May-June with new growing methods extending the season all the way through November.
• Technically, California can produce strawberries all year long.
• California strawberries are hand-picked when ripe and they don’t continue to ripen after picking.

We export approx.10 – 12% of our strawberries to other countries, with Canada receiving the largest supply of fresh berries, and Japan receiving the most frozen berries (though they also receive fresh strawberries, too.) According to California Strawberry Commission, California exported 241.6 million pounds of fresh strawberries and 32.1 million pounds of frozen strawberries in 2009, with a combined value of $316.4 million.

California fresh strawberry exports represented 15.4 percent of the state’s fresh crop and 7.7 percent of frozen production. California strawberries: Counties Monterey, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Orange all find strawberries among their top farm produce annually. Strawberry plants are one of the top farm items in Lassen County.

Strawberry festivals are held in Oxnard, Santa Maria,, Arroyo Grande and Santa Cruz. There’s even a,

Low in calories and packed with vital nutrients like vitamin C, folate and fiber, strawberries are like eating candy to many-especially when made into desserts such as strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, dipped into rich chocolate, or blended in smoothies with bananas and other great ingredients. Strawberry Shortcake with Fresh Sauce Recipe: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups cold whipping cream Fresh Strawberry Sauce1 pint basket California strawberries (12 ounces), stemmed and halved Sugar to taste 1 pint basket California strawberries (12 ounces), stemmed and sliced 1 1/2 cups whipping cream, whipped and sweetened with sugar, to taste Mint sprigs, for garnishDirections

Heat oven to 350 degrees. To make shortcakes, in bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Gently stir with fork, gradually mix in cream until just combined. Mixture should barely hold together. With hands, form dough into six balls; place 3 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in center of oven 25 to 30 minutes until light golden brown, cool on baking sheet. Meanwhile, to make Fresh Strawberry Sauce, in blender, pure the halved strawberries until smooth. Sweeten to taste with sugar; cover and set aside. Split shortcakes horizontally. Divide sauce among six dessert plates; top each with a shortcake bottom, 1/4-cup sliced strawberries and -cup whipped cream. Cover with shortcake tops. Spoon remaining strawberries and whipped cream over shortcakes, dividing equally. Garnish with mint sprigs. Yield: Makes 6 servings. Nutritional Information 662 calories; 45 g fat; 163 mg cholesterol; 679 mg sodium; 60 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 7 g protein.p> : SeeCalifornia.com

How are strawberries grown in California?

How are Strawberries Grown Commercially? – Strawberries are grown on raised beds. There is a black (or sometimes white or other colored) covering that is used, which acts as a mulch that helps retain the soil moisture, prevent against diseases and weeds, and keeps the fruit from coming into contact with any irrigation water.

Strawberries are typically drip irrigated (and therefore, fertigated – where they receive liquid fertilizer through the drip tape) and the irrigation tape goes underneath the plastic covering before the plants are planted. This planting method is typically referred to as annual hill production (AHP) systems or strawberry plasticulture,

Strawberry plants are perennials, meaning that they can grow and produce for more than one season, but they are commonly only grown for one season to help with disease control.

Who grows strawberries in California?

Strawberries grow along the California coast on about 35,000 acres. During peak season, strawberries are harvested in Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Maria, Oxnard and Orange County. During the cooler months, strawberries continue to be harvested in Santa Maria and Oxnard, making California strawberries available year-round.

Are strawberries freeze Hardy?

Strawberries Frost Tolerance and Injury Symptoms – Strawberry flower buds and fruit are susceptible to frost injury any time after bud break (-1ºC or lower). Frost damages the center of the flower with the center turning black while the petals and leaves appear uninjured.

1. The blackening occurs within a few hours to one day after the frost.
2. Frost can also damage the developing fruit, deforming the berries.
3. Frost injury rarely causes complete crop loss because the strawberry plant produces flowers over a two to three week period.
4. The first flowers to open are the largest and face the greatest risk of frost injury.

Closed buds are also sensitive to frost damage. Frost losses can range from 20 to 80% depending on the temperature and the duration of the frost, the cultivar, vigor, stage of development and the weather preceding the frost. Strawberry flower buds can tolerate lower frost temperatures depending on its stage of development.

When should I plant strawberries in Southern California?

When To Plant Strawberries In California – Strawberries are hardy, cold-tolerant plants that can be planted outdoors in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This is usually several weeks before the last frost date, which in California is around:

• Zone 5: April 9th
• Zone 6: March 31st
• Zone 7: March 13th
• Zone 8: March 7th
• Zone 9: February 7th
• Zone 10: January 1st

Planting strawberries early in the spring allows the plants to establish their roots and become stronger before the summer heat arrives. While strawberries can be damaged by extremely cold frost, they are generally quite resilient and can tolerate a certain amount of cold weather.

1. In fact, some varieties of strawberries, such as everbearing or day-neutral varieties, are specifically bred to tolerate cooler temperatures and can even produce fruit in the fall in some regions.
2. It’s still important to be mindful of the weather and protect your plants from frost if necessary.
3. You can cover your strawberry plants with blankets or other protective coverings if a frost is expected.

Additionally, if you live in an area with a short growing season, you may want to consider planting strawberries in containers or raised beds that can be moved indoors if necessary.

Does California grow the most strawberries?

Growing Strawberries in California – There are approximately 300 strawberry growers in California, and most of them are located in five distinct areas of the state: Strawberries are an extremely important crop in the United States, and California leads the way in production with about 88% of the US-grown strawberries coming from this state.

In fact, there is somewhere around 34,000 acres all up and down the beautiful California coast dedicated to growing these berries. Strawberry production in California averages about 50,000 pounds per acre each season. The math obviously changes each year, depending on a wide range of factors, but if we go off of the averages, we can safely estimate that more than 200 million trays of fresh strawberries are harvested in a year.

This works out to around 1.8 billion pounds of strawberries,