Strawberries are a summer favorite, but growing them successfully requires year-round care, especially during the harsh winter months. At our farm, we take special steps to protect our strawberries and ensure they thrive when the growing season arrives. One of the most important practices we use is covering our fields with hay. While it might seem simple, this method provides critical benefits like shielding the plants from the cold, preventing fruit rot, and naturally suppressing weeds. Here’s a closer look at why hay is essential for our strawberries and how it helps us deliver the fresh, flavorful berries you love.

We cover the strawberries to protect them from cold winter temperatures ( winter kill ) and from drying out from cold dry winter months. We have a total of 4 acres of strawberries. We typically put out an average of 200 bales to the acre. The straw also helps in the growing season with keeping the berries off the ground to prevent fruit rot. The second reason is weed suppression. – Jason Girard, Farm Manager

 

Why We Cover Our Strawberry Fields with Hay in the Winter

At our farm, strawberry season is something we look forward to all year. But behind the scenes, there’s a lot of preparation to ensure we have healthy, juicy berries ready for picking when the warm months arrive. One of the most important steps in this process is covering our strawberries with hay during the winter.

ProtectingOur Plants During the Winter

Winters in the Northern U.S. can be harsh, with freezing temperatures and dry, cold winds. Without protection, strawberry plants risk winter kill—damage caused by prolonged exposure to extreme cold. To prevent this, we cover our 4 acres of strawberries with straw, typically spreading an average of 200 bales per acre.

The hay acts as an insulating blanket, keeping the plants warm and shielding them from drying out during the cold, dry months. This ensures that when spring arrives, the plants are strong and ready to produce delicious berries.

Preventing Fruit Rot

Once the growing season begins, the straw plays another crucial role: keeping the strawberries off the ground. When berries rest directly on moist soil, they’re prone to fruit rot, a condition caused by fungi and bacteria that thrive in damp environments. Rotting fruit becomes soft, discolored, and unfit to eat, which can hurt both the harvest and our customers’ experience.

By creating a barrier between the berries and the soil, the hay helps maintain the quality of the fruit, ensuring each strawberry is clean, fresh, and ready for your table.

Suppressing Weeds Naturally

Weeds can quickly take over a strawberry field, competing with the plants for nutrients, water, and sunlight. But our hay does double duty by acting as a natural weed suppressant.

When we spread the straw, it covers the soil and blocks sunlight, which prevents weed seeds from germinating. This reduces the need for hand-weeding or chemical herbicides, keeping our fields healthy and sustainable while allowing the strawberries to thrive.

Here is a video from our TikTok channel:

@smolakfarms Ever wonder why we cover our strawberry fields with hay? Watch how this simple practice protects our plants, prevents fruit rot, and keeps our berries fresh and delicious all season long! #FarmLife#northandoverma #smolakfarms#Applefarm #applefarmfun ♬ original sound – Smolak Farms

You can also view this video on Reels here.

A Small Step with Big Results

Covering our strawberries with hay may seem simple, but it makes a massive difference in the health of our plants and the quality of our harvest. By protecting the plants from winter kill, preventing fruit rot, and naturally suppressing weeds, we can grow strawberries that are as healthy as they are delicious.

We look forward to welcoming you to our fields during the next berry-picking season, where you can taste the difference these efforts make!