Ok, the strawberries are doing great, but are really crowded this year. I want to move a lot of the plants to make them easier to pick, and I think they will produce larger berries, too. Now, when can I move them? Is now ok, even though it is hot? If I keep them watered and pick off all the small berries and blossoms from those I transplant? Don't want to kill them or reduce my chances for more berries next year. Thanks! I sure appreciate any advice those of you who grow them are willing to give! Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), June 12, 2000

Answers

Jan, as you know I live in a very different climate, so not sure this applies, but I transplanted at least 50 plants about 3 weeks ago. A lot of them had blooms or small berries forming, but I needed to re- do the beds, and just did it... results: I picked the first ripe berries this last weekend. They were a lot smaller than I usually get but these are everbearing and I usually get berries all summer. I think I am out of the woods.

On the day I moved them all, it was very windy, and they all went into a sort of shock. However, it has been raining a lot since then, and they recovered. I would think if you could shelter them (put shingles or cardboard or something between them and the sun and wind) and kept them well watered, you should be ok. Again, I have everbearing, and can't speak for the June bearing varieties. Good luck to you!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), June 12, 2000.

Sheepish: I envy you the rain! It is so dry here, even the weeds are drying up. I have mostly Quinalt berries, don't know for sure if they are junebearing or everbearing, have to look it up. Got most of them free last year from a nursery that was tossing them. I'll go ahead and try it with a few, and see what happens. Thanks! Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), June 12, 2000.

You can have all the rain you want!!! I had to have a fire in the fireplace last night..I was freezing. I have put plastic over my rows of planted corn in hopes that the soil isn't going to get too cold (from all the cold rain) for germination. I hear tell that we are due for warmth (high 70's) later this week. I hope so. Maybe we can *finally* get the shearer out and get this years now-starting-to-look- pretty-shabby wool crop off! Not trying to complain too much, but sheesh! Enough already!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), June 12, 2000.

Go ahead and move them, just be sure to keep them well watered - mulch would be good if you don't have slug problems. Shading them is a good idea if you have them in bright sunlight.

I have raised commercial berries since 1980. I have had U-pick and also picked and sold to a local market. I have only sold a few berries this year, as I let my patch go to heck last year, due to a constantly changing work schedule in June and July. I prefer to pick myself and sell off farm to the store. I liked U-pick okay, it just doesn't fit my schedule now - and quite frankly, sometimes after a long night of tending to seriously ill people, I'm not in much of a mood for people who want to get petty over a little mud, or won't stay in the rows that they are told to pick in, or let their kids run rampant through the patch.

I have planted berries from the nursery as late as mid June, and have often given away berry plants from patches we were getting ready to plow down as late as mid July. Water is the key.

I keep my berry rows no wider than 12", sometimes less. I prefer to straddle the row and bend from the hips to pick. With narrow rows, I only have to pick each row once, rather than pick each side of it. Fewer berries get missed that way. The spacing of my rows is determined by my split row tiller - I prefer cultivation to chemicals when it comes to controlling weeds.

I prefer to keep my rows SHORT! I like to be able to look up and see that I am making progress. Psychological? You bet - but it works for me! I think my new patch has rows about 75-80' long. I have had them up to 400' long before - GROAN! You never seemed to get to the end of the darn things.

I have no bug or disease problems with my berries, but I tear out the old patch and rotate it to a different place every three years. Actually, I plant new berries every year, so they are on a three year rotation.

Realize this answers a lot more questions than you have asked - but maybe someone else can use the info.

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), June 12, 2000.

Thanks for all the good info! Polly, you answered a lot of my questions, that I have been mulling over. Have actually thought about doing a U-pick it type operation, but wasn't sure how to control the rug rats and keep them from trampling everything. Maybe make a Kids only patch, and let them pick there. I have pretty much given up growing grapes, as they just don't survive the dry, cold winters. Doesn't matter how much you water them, the vines die every year. The strawberries, however, are doing wonderfully. I just may put in more rows every year of those and see what happens. Thanks again! Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), June 12, 2000.

You can't control the kids. After I ask the parents nicely twice to control them, if they get out of control again, they are asked to leave and to not return with the kids. ("I hate to do this, but your kids are destroying my berries that I count on to pay my property tax. I'm afraid that I have to ask you to leave, 'cause I sure don't want to have to charge you for the damage that they're doing. I'd appreciate you not bringing the kids with you next time. Bye now.")

I knew of one fellow that gave the kids free bubble gum when they got to the patch - ever tasted a strawberry after bubble gum?! Yechh! A mini patch doesn't sound like a bad idea, either.

If you do U-pick, make sure you have liability insurance on your farm. I've never had a claim, but people are sue happy these days, so I wouldn't be without it.

I get small boxes like canned veggies come in from the store and that cans of pop and beer come in from the convenience mart to put my berries in. Commercial containers can add $1.25 to your cost for 4 to 6 quarts of berries - and you have no choice but to pass that cost along. With free boxes, you can cut your price a little. On the farm, I sell by the quart ( I provide standard quart berry boxes for picking in, but they don't leave the farm - they can cost up to 30 cents each!) - I have a legal for trade scale, but always forget to call and have the dept. of ag come by and certify it. I sell by the pound to the store, using their certified scale to weigh the boxes.

I moaned and groaned about paying for commercial aluminum carriers when I started out - but they were one of the best investments I ever made. Lightweight, sturdy, last forever, can be broken down to store, carry eight quarts...Wonderful!! I think that I have 25, but I have some loaned out to a neighbor right now. The only time I ever used that many was when I had 6 acres of berries - NEVER AGAIN!!

It's a great business, but it is a year round committment. Drop me a line if I can be of any help to you.

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), June 12, 2000.