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We have blooms on our strawberries! However, this past week we had some cold weather which makes any fruit grower nervous. The temperature was forecasted in the mid-30s at night. If the temperature dips to 32 degrees F., the strawberry blooms will be killed.
A strawberry bloom has a yellow center with white petals. If the bloom is frosted, the sunny yellow center turns black. When I walk through the fields and see a black center it really makes me sick to my stomach. That's a bloom that won't become a strawberry.
We protect our strawberries when the temperature gets low by covering them. But, that's a lot of work! Wednesday night the kids missed their 4-H meeting because we were busy putting the covers on the strawberries. Four hours later, we finally had them all covered.
With the blooms, we know we'll have strawberries in about two weeks. I'm always nervous right now, hoping for a good crop. But it's also exciting to know that we'll be tasting those berries soon!
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| Delicate strawberry bloom (picture taken by my son) |
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| A strawberry forming from the center of the bloom into a strawberry |
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