Strawberries at Wood Farms last week
It’s Strawberry Time again!! In Davidson County, we have six commercial strawberry producers. Berrier Farms located on N. NC Hwy 150 in Reedy Creek. Wood Farms located on Hoover Rd in the Welcome area. Both Berrier and Wood Farms offer “pick your own” and pre-picked strawberries. Hedgecock Strawberry Farm is located in North Eastern Davidson County on Abbotts Creek Church Rd., and offers pre picked and pick-your-own strawberries. Van Parker of Parker Farms also grows strawberries and sells them at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market and his roadside stand on Hwy 109. Saintsing Farm strawberry farm located on Old Greensboro Road, they will be open for U-pick and pre-picked berries. High Rock Nursery is the newest strawberry farm in Davidson County, located in Linwood. High Rock Nursery will have U-pick and pre-picked berries.
The great majority of North Carolina strawberry farms use the “Southeastern plasticulture method.” Plants are set out into black plastic mulch in the fall of the year. Irrigation and some fertilization are supplied through “drip tape” laid under the plastic at the time of planting. The plants continue to grow during warmer periods during the fall and winter. In late winter and early spring, they start to grow in earnest. Growers protect the early flowers from late frosts (March-April) with overhead irrigation at night. A technique for frost protection is the use of row covers. The floating row covers are made from spun bound remay and can protect the crop from temperatures as low as 20 degrees. Though strawberries are perennial, plasticulture strawberries are grown as annuals, with harvest only 7-8 months after planting and new plants set out every year. Plant density is high (17,500 plants per acre) and the farmers’ investment in the crop is substantial. Chandler is the variety of strawberry is most widely planted in North Carolina. Chandler is a California variety that is especially adapted to North Carolina conditions. This high-yielding variety produces large, well-colored, juicy fruit. The harvest season begins in early April in the Coastal Plain and ends in mid-June in the western part of the state. Depending on weather, most farms pick for 6-8 weeks.
Berrier Farms, 6422 N. NC Hwy 150, Lexington NC call 336-764-3515 for hours and availability
Hedgecock Strawberry Farm, 3011 Abbotts Creek Church Rd, Kernersville NC call 336-869-4762 for hours of operation and availability.
High Rock Nursery, 844 JM Penninger Road, Lexington NC call 336-250-5427 for hours and availability
Parker Farms, 4337 N. Hwy 109, High Point NC berries are available pre picked at their roadside stand and at the local farmer’s markets
Saintsing Farm, 2242 Old Greensboro Road, Thomasville NC call 336-906-9161 for hours and availability
Wood Farms, 1012 Hoover Road, Lexington NC call 336-731-4631 for hours and availability
