USA: Strawberries already ripening in Jackson County

Strawberries were not widely grown in Arkansas until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The fruit crop became more pervasive as railroad lines expanded around the state and it became easier to ship. It’s estimated that more than 200 acres of strawberries are grown in the state each year, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. This year the berries might be headed for an early start. Strawberries, which are typically ready close to Mother’s Day, have been found growing and ripening before Christmas in Jackson County. In Arkansas, strawberries are typically planted in September to early October. Depending on planting date row covers are applied to help with growth prior to dormancy. Row covers help to trap heat from the soil and are made of white, lightweight, non-woven fabrics. “Christmas strawberries?” asked Matthew Davis, Jackson County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, in a Facebook post on Dec. 21. “Warm weather has ...