It has never been as warm in large parts of Hesse at the beginning of April as it is this year. The mild weather is affecting the work of fruit growers. Despite the change in weather, the strawberry harvest begins earlier than ever.
Gründau-Lieblos/Fulda - In the summer, farmer Würfl's fields are diligently collected. Strawberry lovers hope for a good harvest. Because the weather was so warm in the first half of April, the season could start earlier. Despite the storm that brought polar air to Hesse this week.
“As a farmer Würfl, he farms 50 hectares of strawberries and 30 hectares of asparagus in Hesse between Frankfurt and Fulda. Sebastian Würfl has already started harvesting asparagus. “Nature is currently two weeks ahead of its usual development,” says Sebastian Würfl.
Despite the return of winter weather: the strawberry harvest begins in Hesse at the end of April
At Gründau-Lieblos, the strawberries grow in a large polytunnel. The first berries can be picked there at the end of this week. “Of course, these are only the very first fruits that we sell in our farm shop,” says Würfl. The fruit and asparagus farmer is still happy about the first red fruits every year.
Things look different on the self-picking fields around Fulda. Normally the season starts here at the beginning of June at the earliest. “It is possible that it will start a week or two earlier than usual. But that still depends on the weather, especially frost,” explains Würfl. Persistent frost is the great enemy of plants.
And that's exactly why Sebastian Würfl is currently discussing things intensively with his employees. Because thanks to the change in the weather this week - there was even snow on the Wasserkuppe, Hesse's highest mountain - night frosts are now threatening again. “We thought about how we could protect the plants on our around 80 self-picking fields against the cold,” says the fruit farmer.
Nets should help: Winter weather in April endangers flowering strawberry plants
It's less about the fields around Fulda, the flowers are still closed here. Further south, towards Frankfurt, a number of plants have already bloomed - and are therefore extremely vulnerable to frost. Subzero temperatures can cause enormous damage to the delicate plants.
“In extreme cases, this can mean complete failure of the harvest,” says Würfl, describing his experiences. That's why he now wants to ensure that a large part of the fields are covered with nets and fleeces so that they are protected against the cold at night.
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And then it's time to wait. “The weather can settle down again.” If Würfl had one wish, it would be: “No more frost and no excessive heat. Instead, continuously warm temperatures and occasional rain. In short: normal weather. That would be perfect."
For example, fresh strawberries can be baked into a summer strawberry cake with pudding and sour cream.