Shortened strawberry season at one local farm thanks to weather

May at Thies Farm and Market in Maryland Heights, MO usually means an abundance of spring fruits and vegetables. It also brings the return to the popular “You Pick” strawberries from their fields.

What You Need To Know

• The strawberry crop this year was much smaller than in years past due to weather
• Thies Farm was only open for one week of “You Pick” this year
• Across the river into Illinois, the strawberry crop fared much better

They opened on May 10 for “You Pick” and the crowds came out in full force. In fact, so many people picked on opening day that they had to shut down the “You Pick” for the rest of the week with the hopes to reopen the following week after more more fields ripened. 

However, that wasn’t the case and now the farm isn’t hosting “You Pick” hours. 

While this year the season began a week earlier than in 2022, this crop was nothing like last year’s.

Best time to plant

Local fruit experts will tell you the best time to plant for a late spring harvest is at the end of the growing season in late summer. The farm planted their strawberry crop in late Aug. 2022. 

The plants need sufficient water in the fall to establish themselves, however last year the plants didn’t get enough water to grow. A harsh cold snap in December, where several days saw temperatures rise only into the single digits, had the plants go into dormancy with some not surviving.

Welle and his team hoped the plants would revive in a mild and wet spring; however, the lack of rain worsened the situation despite the mild temperatures during that time.

Low strawberry yield

With such a low yield this year, the public picked the fields clean during opening week. In contrast, last year the fields were open for six weeks of picking.

Letting the fields rest over the weekend means there are a few berries here and there, but they won’t be advertising for “You Pick.”

Welle explains, “If you are looking for an activity to do with the kids to get out of the house and have them run around the fields searching for berries, come on over.”

However, he cautions “Do not come expecting to pick 5 lbs of strawberries to make Grandma’s jam recipe.”

Next “You Pick” item

While the berry season may have been short, the folks at Thies are already gearing up for the summer sunflower season. Welle tells me they will plant sunflower seeds this week to have them bloom for the summer.

They will offer “You Pick” sunflowers when the flowers have matured. Stay tuned for opening dates.

“Very good crop” across the river

Across the river into Illinois, folks at Eckert’s Belleville Farm reported “a very good crop” of strawberries this year. The farm opened for “You Pick” in early May and they were expected to remain open until the end of the month. 

Only 46 miles separate these two farms, but it was just enough to provide different weather during the off-season. 

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