Strawberry harvest in Bautzen has been shrinking to a low for 20 years!

Strawberry harvest in Bautzen has been shrinking to a low for 20 years!

The strawberry season in the Bautzen district is coming to an end, and the mood among the farmers could hardly be more mixed. Martin Wahode from Rothnaußlitz is a devastating judgment: he speaks of the "worst harvest in 20 years". The decline is particularly striking compared to the previous year when the harvest was even more satisfactory. This year only about half of the strawberries were harvested that existed in 2023. Frost and cold nights have severely affected the growth of the fruits, while the heat and the many sunny days were less problematic. However, Wahode is lucky that the taste of its strawberries is very good and sweet despite the adverse circumstances.

The season stretched from the beginning of June. While Wahode is already preparing for the future by irrigating and fertilizing his field, he has the method of irrigation. This technique protects strawberries from frost by releasing heat. This leaves a sigh of relief, who nevertheless face the great challenges of the weather. Matthias Domanja from Oberkaina has reported sunburn and smaller fruits. He also mulch and fertilizes his strawberry field to create more stability for the next season.

frost and drought as a constant companion

At the Kaschwitz estate in Putzkau, strawberries can still be picked. Boss Christian Bock didn't have it easy in the season. He fought with the challenges of frost and drought at the beginning of the harvest time - and yet he was able to achieve overall satisfactory results. Some fruits lacked the perfect shape, but these hurdles do not seem to have discouraged him. Bock plans to grow varieties with strong leaf formation in the future in order to better arm its protégés against the elements. In comparison, Edmund Kubitz from Hoyerswerda reports about a good harvest that suffered fewer frost damage than in the previous year.

An additional attention from the strawberries is on the subject of frost protection. Especially in the spring time, strawberries are particularly susceptible to frost damage that can arise from sudden spring frost during the flowering period. Temperatures below -2 ° C are fatal for the flowers, so protective measures are important. As different experts report, dense bundle of strawberry flowers can withstand up to -6 ° C, while the fruits themselves survive heat and drought if they are well irrigated. Before the last frost -free date, protection strategies are indispensable to save the sensitive plants, for example by mulching with straw or special irrigation techniques.

The water use in agriculture

In Germany, farmers are increasingly concerned with the question of water. Sausage and vegetables do not grow out of nowhere, and only 3.1 percent of agricultural areas are irrigated. Despite the fact that Germany is considered a water -kingdom, the long -standing potential water intelligence has decreased. The risks due to drought and other extreme weather events are a permanent challenge, with water consumption in agriculture only defending a minimal part of the total consumption. For example, water use in agriculture only makes 0.25 percent of the long -term presentation.

It is clear that the strawberry season in the Bautzen district was shaped by several adversities this year. But the farmers show resilient and set the course for hopefully better harvest next year!