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Polytunnels ~ the facts about strawberry production
TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
There are two types of strawberry grown in this country – the June bearer and the ever bearer.
The June Bearer• PlantedinApril,flowersinMayandharvested60days
afterplanting,inJune.
• Attheendoftheseasontheyaredugupwhendormantandfrozenat-2ºC,tobereplantednextyear.
The Ever Bearer• PlantedinMarcheveryweekfor3weeks.
• Continuouslythrowsoutflowers.
• CropsandisreadyforharvestinginJune,JulyandAugust.
• Theseplantsarepulledoutandkilledoffattheendofthe season.
NurserystockscomefromtheUS,Italy,HollandandsomefromtheUK.
Protect the plant
Why?
Rain spreads disease androtsplant,
damagingthesoftskinof the strawberry.
Advantage:Less pesticides and chemicals needed.
To encourage crops to come earlier
Why?
To protect the plant against frost.
Alsoitextendstheheathours the crop receives
Advantage:ExtendsBritishgrowing
season. reducing the need for imports out of
season.
Why use poly tunnels?Polytunnelsprovidetheoptimumconditionsforstrawberrygrowing–thismeansalarger crop and the plants can fight disease.
www.tide global learning.net
TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
The Strawberry SeasonJanuary Mid January the season for strawberries under glass finishes.
February Mid February season for strawberries under glass starts in heated poly tunnels.
March Plantingofeverberryeveryweek,fornext3weeks. The strawberry beds are prepared and poly tunnels erected for June bearing berries.
Raised beds on which strawberries will be planted.
www.tide global learning.net
TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
Trickleirrigationisinstalledprior to plastic being overlaid. This is to allow water to get directly to the roots of the strawberry plant,whichreducesneedless water loss.
Asprinklerisusedforwateringnewcropsfor10-14daystostoptheleavesdryingout.Afterwards,thetricklesystemisused.Throughthis,thewaterpHandelectricconductivity is monitored and the nutrients carefully balanced. The water comes from rivers,reservoirs,boreholesandmains.
Itistooexpensivetowastewater-thatwhichisnotused,iscleanedandreused.
www.tide global learning.net
TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
Blackplasticlaidoverthetrickleirrigationsystem.
Atractorlayingfleecetoprevent weeds growing and to insulate the soil.
Whitefleeceisusedtowarm the soil ready for the strawberries to be plantedinApril.
www.tide global learning.net
TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
April BringouttheJuneplants(Elsanta)fromthefreezerandplantthemaroundmidApril,everyweekinsuccession.Holesaremadeintheblackplasticandtheyoungplantsinserted.
Thetunnelsgoupfromflowerinitiationbutiftheflowersappearearly,thetunnelswillprotectfrom rain and frost. Strawberriespickedunderglassfromnow.
Fleece
Polytunneltokeepthefrostand rain away from plants.
Young strawberries planted through plastic
Theconditionscanbecontrolledbyvaryingtheuseofpolytunnelandfleece.
Fleece covering young plantstokeepfrostoff.
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TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
MayYoung plants develop.
Plasticsidesof tunnel lowered.
Plasticraisedfor ventilation to control temperature.
Wood shavings or similar for ???? Strawberryplants.
Flowers developing on plants.
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TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
June –August Pickingtakesplace.
July Wheneverbearersfinishcropping,theplantsarekilledandnewplantsplantedinthesameholes.IsthisJulyorlater?
August Newstrawberriesareplantedunderglassforpickingin60days time.
The Fruit Pickers DayStartsat3:30a.m.ordaybreakandcontinuesuntilitistoohottopickthefruit,asitwilleasilygetdamaged.Theworkingdayfinishesby4:30p.m.atthelatest,althoughitisusuallymuchearlierthanthis.Ifitisnothotandsunny,thepickingcanbeginandendlater.Workersmusthave11hoursadayclearfromworkandworkamaximumof39hoursaweek.
Plastictraysaretakentothefield.Thereare6or8plasticpunnets to a tray.
Thepunnetshold250or500gofstrawberries.
Althoughthereissomechangetowardsrecyclablepackaging,punnets cannot be made of biodegradable materials as they deteriorate in the sun’s heat.
www.tide global learning.net
TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
The Packing HouseThepackhouseisworking24hoursaday,7daysaweekattheheightofproduction.
Thepackhouseischilledtokeepthestrawberriesinperfectcondition.Qualitycontroltakesplacehere,theweightischeckedandthelidsareplacedon.
www.tide global learning.net
TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
The strawberries are ready to be transported by refrigerated lorry to thesupermarket.Thesupermarketshave clear guidelines about standard andquality,sothegrowerswillleavepoorer quality strawberries on the plant,asitistooexpensivetopickandpackthem.Wholesalemarketsarenotreliable outlets for large strawberry producers.
TheUKmarketisgrowingatabout20%ayearandhasbeenfor10years.
September – October November Frost finishes the season.
December June bearing plants dug up and frozen at -2ºC
www.tide global learning.net
TIDE~ global learning toolkit© Tide~ global learning May be copied for use in your classroom
from Herefordshire polytunnels project
Fascinating Facts!Japan is one of the largest strawberry producers in the world. Many
families will own a tunnel – they are often given as gifts.
Americaistheworld’slargeststrawberryproducer,followedbyChinaandSpain.
Spainproducesapprox.300000tonsofstrawberriesayear.UKproducesapprox.48-50000tonsofstrawberriesayear.
Inthesummer,softfruitrepresentsabout1%?ofsupermarketturnoverandisthesecondlargestinmonetaryvalue,ofallproducelines.
S&AProducegrow25%ofthestrawberriesproducedintheUKbasedprimarilyinKentandHerefordshire.Theysellstrawberriestothesupermarketsat£14perkilo.Theyemployroughly4000seasonalworkers–andsomewhoarefulltimeonlyreturninghomefor
Christmas.