Strawberry magic in Poing: This is how Hans Schimpf overcomes adversity!

Strawberry magic in Poing: This is how Hans Schimpf overcomes adversity!

In small Angelbrechting, not far from Frankfurt, farmer Hans Schimpf faces the adversities of life with a dose of optimism. He has had a passion for growing strawberries for over 35 years, which began in his childhood. Schimpf currently specializes in extending the season of his strawberries by selecting new varieties.

To maximize the diversity of his crop, he has decided to grow both early and late-bearing strawberry varieties, including the juicy Korona strawberries, which are ready early in the season, and the sweet Marika strawberries, which reach their full sweetness in late summer. He is also able to achieve this thanks to the switch to snap-frozen seedlings, known as Frigo strawberries, which offer a wider selection of varieties and can better cope with the demands of climate change due to their robustness. “I want to get the best out of my harvest and do a good business,” says Schimpf.

The challenges of the season

This year, however, the strawberry field is facing additional challenges. A nuisance soil fungus, Verticillium, has affected crops and is causing the field to temporarily close. Schimpf notes that the previous growing practice – potatoes in the same field – had a negative impact on the strawberries. “This is quite a setback!” said the farmer. He has therefore decided not to grow potatoes near the strawberry plants in the future.

On his farm, which also includes a stake in a district composting plant, Schimpf ensures that the strawberries are consumed quickly. These are particularly intended for direct marketing and require proper care. This includes watering, fertilizing and mulching to ensure the best yields. To optimize the harvest time of their strawberries, he also used black mulch, which contributes to an earlier harvest.

Experience the diversity of strawberry varieties

The variety of strawberry varieties is impressive. Overall, there are numerous varieties that differ in taste, fruit size and harvest time. Garden strawberries, for example, are a cross between Chile and scarlet strawberries and are wonderfully tasty. Some varieties, such as the single-bearing 'Clery' or 'Sonata', produce fruit in June to early July, while the ever-bearing ones such as 'Sweet Marathon' offer enjoyment until autumn.

Some old varieties such as 'Queen Luise' have won a place in the hearts of strawberry lovers thanks to their special taste. Particularly interesting are the monthly strawberries, which are considered breeding-modified wild strawberries and are characterized by their ability not to form runners.

Schimpf remains optimistic, despite the challenges that weather and illness can bring. His passion for growing strawberries and constantly improving his farming methods help him meet the demands of the market while living his childhood dreams. “Sometimes you just have to be able to deal with adverse circumstances,” he says thoughtfully. The strawberry field is often closed, but Schimpf has clear plans for the future.

For all strawberry lovers, it is worth discovering the variety of varieties and supporting the immediate enjoyment of freshly harvested fruits from the region.

You can find out more about the challenges of strawberry cultivation and the different varieties at Merkur, where Merkur reports by Hans Schimpf and his experiences. The cultivation and care of strawberries is also presented in detail on Plantura, where you can find many tips and tricks.