Strawberry picking enthusiasts face challenges in Brandenburg as the season gets underway - Strawberry picking by the public is set to commence in Brandenburg
In Brandenburg, the strawberry picking season has begun prematurely, but with challenges due to late frosts. Farmers advise visitors to check opening hours in advance as some may close temporarily. The late frosts in May have negatively impacted the yield, causing delays in harvesting and forcing some farms to shut down temporarily.
Neumann's Erntegarten in Potsdam, for example, is yet to begin self-picking due to the damage caused by the frost. "We don't anticipate starting the harvest for at least another three weeks," Martina Neumann, owner of Neumann's Erntegarten, stated. The initial blooms were damaged by the late frost at the beginning of May.
The Berlin Beer Garden, meanwhile, temporarily closed its gardens in Oranienburg, Schönfließ, Hoppegarten, and Gatow on Wednesday due to the lack of ripe fruits. The company warns that they may have to close again at short notice, depending on the ripeness of the fruits.
Pomona Gartenbau in Ahrensfelde/Elisenau is actively using a WhatsApp channel to update its customers on the varieties currently growing and the current opening hours. Business owner Reiner Matthes revealed that he aims to implement better protection strategies against climate risks in the future. He explained that a large portion of his strawberry harvest was destroyed by the late frost.
The Association of Garden Building Berlin-Brandenburg forecasts a continued decline in the cultivation of strawberries in Brandenburg due to increased costs and legal requirements in plant protection. Around 60 horticultural businesses in Brandenburg grow strawberries.
Spargelhof Klaistow, located in Brandenburg, is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00 for strawberry picking and other farm activities. SL Gartenbau, located in Oberkrämer-Vehlefanz, about 30 km north of Berlin, offers strawberry picking but specific opening times were not provided.
As for the harvest, it has been impacted by the late frosts, leading to reduced availability and quality in some areas. Some farms have reported quality issues with their strawberries, such as soft and brown fruits. Despite the challenges, strategies like regenerative agriculture are being considered to improve resilience and yields in the long term.
Innovative methods like agrivoltaics, which combines agriculture with energy production, are being explored to protect crops from climate-related risks. This technology could potentially provide a protective cover for strawberry plants in the future.
In light of the affected strawberry crops in Brandenburg due to late frosts, the community policy for Neumann's Erntegarten and other affected farms may need to be revised to accommodate the delays in harvesting. With the Berlin Beer Garden temporarily closing its gardens in various locations due to insufficient food-and-drink produce, it's crucial for local businesses in the home-and-garden sector to offer alternatives, such as lifestyle activities that do not depend on the immediate availability of strawberries.
