Substrate cultivation and soil-bound cultivation

In Belgium there are two distinct strawberry regions; each has its own specific cultivation system. In South Limburg and the Hageland cultivation is mainly in the open field, while substrate harvesting is more popular in the Noorderkempen. Picking in the open fields mainly takes place in June. It is possible to spread the harvest for June-bearing fruit over a very long period. Early harvest is possible by tunnelling in the plants or covering them with perforated foil from February onwards. Late harvest is possible by covering plants with straw or using cold-stored plants. Substrate cultivation system with a higher production cost. Thus production is intended for those periods of the year, when prices are higher, i.e. the month of April and from September until the year-end. In order to achieve this growers will start working in greenhouses or in heated tunnels for a spring harvest, under unheated plastic tunnels or in the open field for summer crops. Autumn crops are grown in greenhouses or in heated tunnels. These cultivations mainly use cold-stored Elsanta plants.