Making Strawberries a Juicy Venture

            Auburn, May 2, 2003 -- Ever considered growing fruit in your home garden?  Or maybe you are a farmer considering new crops to diversify your operation.  Strawberries might be just the crop you are looking for. But if you intend to get into strawberry production, you will need to learn the latest production methods.

            “The old-fashioned strawberry patch is a thing of the past in commercial operations,” says Bobby Boozer, a small fruit horticulturist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.  “Most farmers who raise strawberries now grow them on plastic mulch, with some type of irrigation.  This method is known as plasticulture.” 

            You can learn more about strawberry culture at a Strawberry Workshop and Field Day Tuesday, May 13.  The free program will be from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center in Crossville.

            A number of Extension professionals will discuss production methods, disease problems and control, and insect control and marketing.

            “This is a great opportunity for folks interested in strawberry production to learn about the methods and critical details of a successful operation,” says Boozer.  “But it will also be valuable for those already growing strawberries.  It will be an opportunity to get the latest research and talk with experts on fine tuning their operations.”

            For more information or for directions, contact the Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center at (256)528-7133.

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