Still we are tending the spring duties and this weekend consisted of yet more berry work,
Now that the weather has become consistently warm it is time to uncover the strawberries.
You see growing strawberries in Ontario has its challenges, and if you've ever wondered why strawberries are covered with straw before winter well here is the reason. During early spring while the temperature tends to vary above and below freezing the ground can thaw and re-freeze in a matter of hours. The one problem this causes for strawberry growers is that the constant thawing and re-freezing causes the ground to 'heave' out the roots of the plants and actually push them a little ways out of the ground, which ends up damaging the plant. This can lower both the plants yields and resistance to disease, as well as its health of course.
To deal with this problem colder climate growers apply straw to the field before the unstable weather starts in the fall. The straw which acts as an insulator actually keeps the ground a certain temperature and can stop the ground beneath it from 'flash-freezing'. This prevents the ground from spitting the plants out and gives them a head start on their native relatives.
But despite popular belief this is not where the name 'strawberries' was derived from. In fact it was named during the pioneer days when the berries would be sold in straw wreathes at the market; that the berry got its name. Thats another thing I learned this weekend, it's actually amazing how much you discover when you get closer to the food you eat and I hope you will join me again for more stories on the road to real food. Until next time,
Good Eating!
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