If you’re curious where are strawberries grown in the UK, the top five counties are Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Isle of Wight, and Sussex. However, Colorado State University also mentioned Kent as a top producer. According to Pennsylvania State University, the UK is one of the first in the world for strawberry production and that 40,000 acres of the country grow strawberries.
The strawberry industry in the UK is always on the rise, so it’s not surprising that many farmers are interested in it. The good news is that even if your county is not from the top five mentioned, it’s still possible to grow these delicious and healthy berries successfully. For example, the polytunnel proves to be advantageous for strawberry farming if you’re in other counties like Surrey, Hampshire, and Essex.
With proper knowledge of strawberries’ ideal environment and gardening practices in the UK, you can contribute to the United Kingdom’s popular fruit production.
Where Are Strawberries Grown In The UK And Where They Grow Best
The counties known for producing the best strawberries are Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Sussex, and Kent. Additionally, every county in the UK and Scotland grows strawberries. Provided that you have researched the growing requirements and needed adjustments for your British area, you shouldn’t yield quality strawberries.
What makes strawberries unique is that this fruit is not easy to cultivate worldwide. They are not as flexible to the weather and climate compared to other fruits like bananas or watermelons. However, the United Kingdom has favourable growing conditions that make it one of the strawberries’ biggest producers.
More so, berries are ranked third among the most popular fruits in the UK regarding consumption.
Where do strawberries grow best in the UK?
All the counties mentioned in the list are ideal locations for growing strawberries in the UK. However, the top two, which are Kent and Cornwall, would be the best among them. You can also use a polytunnel if you’re from another county and create an optimal growing environment to have a productive strawberry farm.
To give you a general idea of the best location for growing strawberries, Kent is responsible for 75% of production. The fruits are available from January to November, with peaks from March to May. The county can produce a billion pounds of berries each year, and each acre has an average of 21 tons annually.
Following Devon is Isle of Wight, where the strawberry season is from December to May. It peaks from March to April, and the county also imports winter strawberries from November to May. This way, the county can meet the demand for the strawberries year-round.
Challenges in growing strawberries in the UK
If you’re interested in growing strawberries in the UK, you also have to be aware of potential production challenges. It’s not enough to know where they grow and which counties provide the fruits’ ideal climates. For example, while Kent ranks first in strawberry production, the county also has production challenges to consider.
The weather can still be challenging, the costs in labour and land values can be high, and the county has restrictions and regulations for fumigants. Dorset also experiences challenges in production due to soil fumigation, volatile prices, rules, cross-border competition, and labour shortage. Regardless of your UK region, you can expect some potential drawbacks, so you must be prepared beforehand.
Best Strawberries For The UK
Remember that three types of strawberries: June-bearing, everbearing, and day-neutral—choosing among the three means considering certain factors. June-bearing is the most common in the UK for commercial production because they produce bigger fruits and have many runners. This type can also fruit for two weeks, so it’s more productive compared to other types.
On the contrary, everbearing strawberries will only fruit up to three times per year. Day-neutral strawberries will be abundant from July to September, but it’s crucial to maintain the ideal temperature because it can affect their flowering. You could achieve a long growing season at minimum costs if you considered using greenhouses.
You don’t need to face potential outdoor fluctuations in climate, and the extended season helps you receive a higher price for your strawberries. As a bonus, you’ll always be confident with the quality of your berries, considering that weather influences their flavour. It’s essential to provide high-quality strawberries consistently to make it easier to sell them.
Some stores even require good quality, so don’t let all your hard work go to waste by settling for so-so fruit quality.
Conclusion
The strawberry industry is always on the rise because of the high demand from consumers. So if you’re thinking of venturing into it, you must know where are strawberries grown in the UK. While all counties can grow these fruits, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Sussex and Kent are the top states.
The geography gives you a general idea of what is the best growing environment for the strawberry plants. However, challenges can and will happen, so be prepared beforehand. Even the top county, Kent, can experience drawbacks such as challenging weather conditions.
Therefore, it’s an excellent consideration to use a polytunnel and get an extended growing season.