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| Strawberries start as flowers |
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| 1) Why do we plant onions on the outside rows of the strawberry field? To keep out the elephants ....Just Kidding! The real answer is, a worker will go down the middle of the rows and pick to his/her right and left. If a worker picks on the outside row, which only allows him/her to pick on one side, then it will slow down how quickly they fill a flat. Most workers don't want to pick the out side edge, so it is easier just to plant onions. They are also good to eat!
2) What varities of strawberries are grown in Florida? Radiance, Festival, Treasure, Camarosa, Winter Dawns, Camino and Carmine
3) How often do you harvest a single berry plant? Each plant is picked every 3 to 4 days. It takes a strawberry approximately 14 to 21 days (depending on weather) to go from flower to red fruit
4) Can you pick a strawberry which is not yet ripe and allow it to ripen once picked? No, you must pick a strawberry once it is ripe, they will not ripen after picking.
5) What is the Florida Strawberry Season? We start picking around Thanksgiving and stop around Easter, sometimes sooner. The market price determines how long we pick.
6) Is everything done by machine or tractor? No, the tractors are only used to prepare the ground. Once the bed is formed, the plastic and drip tape laid, and the holes for the plants punched; then the rest is done by hand. Workers plant the strawberry plants, trim the runner of the plants, and pick the strawberries.
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