At least 50 complete leaves per planting should be collected, rinsed, and allowed to dry completely before processing. Contact your regional or state fruit specialists for the exact procedure, processing instructions, and fees. Standards are available for comparison to determine if your results indicate the need for corrective measures . Strawberries are a cool weather crop, producing most of their growth in the spring and fall. Growth is greatly slowed during the hot, dry summer months, resulting in a shallow root system.
Irrigation also can eliminate losses due to freezing temperatures during the early bloom periods.
If sprinklers are turned on before the temperature at ground level drops to 32 degrees F and continued until air temperature is above freezing and all ice has melted off the plants, the blossoms will be protected. Remember, the first blossoms to open will bear the largest berries. The sensitive, actively-growing tissue in the crown needs to be protected from freezing injury that would make it more susceptible to pathogen attack. When temperatures drop too low or wind speed increases, the irrigation system may not be able to give maximum protection.