Wed, 30 Dec, 2015 01:37:45 AM FTimes- STT Report, Dec 30 ![]() Strawberry field. File Photo Lehtikuva. The persistent mild weather does not seem to have messed the transition of berries to winter dormancy, said Terhi Taulavuori, the development manager at the agricultural expert organisation ProAgria.
Neither berries nor strawberries have been affected, in his view, by growth disorders or other calamities.
According to Taulavuori, it’s too early to say how the winter’s mild start has affected the crops, and the matter will only become clear in the spring.
Winter weather in springtime usually affects berry plants and apple trees most detrimentally.
According to Taulavuori, the situation last summer varied greatly from region to region. In some places, the crops were good and at a good level, but others yielded less than normal.
Of the grain harvests on the national level, it’s still too early to tell.
“This growing season has certainly been a cliff-hanger. I have followed the crops situation since the 1990s, and no one has ever seen such a long harvesting season,” Taulavuori said.
The weather treated berry farmers a bit more favourably than others. Taulavuori pointed to strawberry farmers as an example.
This year, frosts did not affect the flowering period and, although pollinators moved a bit slower than normal due to the cold, the heavy rains caused larger berries than normal.
The cool weather also prevented the spread of gray mould that affects strawberries and raspberries.
The strawberry and raspberry season is often short, but this summer, the harvest continued longer than normal.
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