Proven Production: Day-neutral strawberries can be a viable option for Midwest growers

摘要

DAY-NEUTRAL strawberries provide an opportunity to market fruit during the growing season when locally grown strawberries are normally not available. The fruiting season can be extended from five weeks, typical of June-bearing strawberries, to three to five months. Direct-to-consumer sales of day-neutral strawberries in the off-seasons of summer and fall can receive at least twice the price of June-bearing strawberries. However, growing day-neutral strawberries requires intensive practices, and challenges need to be minimized for optimal production and quality. Growers should start with small-sized plantings to determine optimal production practices, labor needs and resources, and market potential. Growing and marketing day-neutral strawberries fits well with other crops that have labor and resource requirements throughout the growing season, such as fresh-market vegetables, and can diversify the crops produced in an operation.