Strawberry production – season extension workshop

November 11, 2021

The main strawberry fruit production period in Northern Ireland is from May to August. In response to an increasing interest from local growers in producing fresh strawberry fruit outside the main strawberry season, CAFRE will host a soft fruit technical training event on the 17 November 2021 at 2pm. at the Horticulture Centre in Greenmount Campus, Antrim.

The CAFRE speakers will be Berta Cunha (Soft Fruit Advisor) and Kostas Xyntaris (Senior Technologist) who will review the work carried out at the Horticulture Centre during 2020-21 in relation to Extension of the Strawberry Fruit Season. Discussions will focus on environmental control, nutrition, plant growth and bio pesticide usage in the crop.

An online presentation will be given by Nathanael Dannenberg and Peer Hermans from Signify, a world leader in artificial lighting) covering strawberry production season extension. Signify speakers will provide real yield information and data from some of their projects and focus on how growers can achieve season extension through the use of supplemental lighting.

This workshop is open to all growers and soft fruit businesses. . If you have any queries or require further information on the event, please contact Kieran Lavelle, Senior Horticulture Development Adviser, Horticulture Branch, CAFRE Mob: 0799057589, E-mail: kieran.lavelle@daera-ni.gov.uk