5/8/18 Update: Strawberries are now in season! We anticipate that strawberries will be available until early June.
April Showers…
It’s a very exciting month here at Chiles Peach Orchard: April. Our plants are beginning to blossom and so is the promise of juicy fruit and summer days. Peaches have just finished blooming, cherry trees are at peak prettiness, and our apples are just beginning. We anticipate starting strawberry season the second week of May, depending on the weather between now and then. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @ChilesPeachOrch for the latest picking updates (#whatspickingCPO).
Life of a Strawberry Plant
Our patch is currently covered to protect it from chilly nights, but the plants are strong and healthy under the tarp! This big blanket keeps the heat in and prevents frost from settling on the plants. You can tell things are going well because the leaves are vibrantly green and have a lot of growth. In some spots, the petals have already fallen and little strawberries are starting to form. Once the fruit blooms, it takes about 30 days to ripen into the perfect strawberry, so we are getting close!
Ready to Pick?
Once the patch is ready for pickers, you’ll want to look for berries that are red all the way to the tip. Did you know that strawberries don’t ripen after they are picked? That’s right—a green strawberry will stay green when you take it home, so hold out for those gorgeous red strawberries. For tips on how to pluck strawberries from the plants without damaging them, see our how-to guide.
