Polytunnels ~ the facts about strawberry production facts... · Polytunnels ~ the facts about strawberry production ... Why use poly tunnels? Poly tunnels provide the optimum conditions
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
www.tide global learning.net
Polytunnels ~ the facts about strawberry production
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.
April BringouttheJuneplants(Elsanta)fromthefreezerandplantthemaroundmidApril,everyweekinsuccession.Holesaremadeintheblackplasticandtheyoungplantsinserted.
Thetunnelsgoupfromflowerinitiationbutiftheflowersappearearly,thetunnelswillprotectfrom rain and frost. Strawberriespickedunderglassfromnow.
Fleece
Polytunneltokeepthefrostand rain away from plants.
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.
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.