Latest news with #polytunnels
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sweeter strawberries after 'perfect' spring
Record-breaking spring sunshine and "perfect" conditions are producing larger and sweeter strawberries, says one West Sussex grower. Provisional Met Office figures show the UK experienced its warmest spring on record and its driest in over half a century in 2025. Bartosz Pinkosz, operations director at The Summer Berry Company, said daytime sunshine and cooler nights in March, April and May "positively influenced our growing conditions". The company, based at Groves Farm near Chichester, uses reservoirs to help protect against droughts. Mr Pinkosz said: "What we have observed this year is the perfect conditions to develop ideal berries, which are bigger, tastier, and with better shelf life." The Summer Berry Company has 300 acres of polytunnels, according to Mr Pinkosz. The company also has 62 acres of glasshouses for producing a winter crop of the fruit, and says it supplies most major UK retailers. Despite the bumper 2025 crop, Mr Pinkosz warned that climate change "potentially has a negative impact on growing fruit". "No fruit, in my experience, likes too hot conditions or too wet conditions," he said. The company has, however, designed new varieties of strawberry, which it hopes will allow it to keep producing berries in harsher conditions. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. UK's spring was warmest on record, Met Office says Pleas to 'use water wisely' to avoid hosepipe ban Farmer's yield concerns after no 'meaningful rain' 'Difficult year' for farmers as annual show begins Met Office
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sweeter strawberries after 'perfect' spring
Record-breaking spring sunshine and "perfect" conditions are producing larger and sweeter strawberries, says one West Sussex grower. Provisional Met Office figures show the UK experienced its warmest spring on record and its driest in over half a century in 2025. Bartosz Pinkosz, operations director at The Summer Berry Company, said daytime sunshine and cooler nights in March, April and May "positively influenced our growing conditions". The company, based at Groves Farm near Chichester, uses reservoirs to help protect against droughts. Mr Pinkosz said: "What we have observed this year is the perfect conditions to develop ideal berries, which are bigger, tastier, and with better shelf life." The Summer Berry Company has 300 acres of polytunnels, according to Mr Pinkosz. The company also has 62 acres of glasshouses for producing a winter crop of the fruit, and says it supplies most major UK retailers. Despite the bumper 2025 crop, Mr Pinkosz warned that climate change "potentially has a negative impact on growing fruit". "No fruit, in my experience, likes too hot conditions or too wet conditions," he said. The company has, however, designed new varieties of strawberry, which it hopes will allow it to keep producing berries in harsher conditions. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. UK's spring was warmest on record, Met Office says Pleas to 'use water wisely' to avoid hosepipe ban Farmer's yield concerns after no 'meaningful rain' 'Difficult year' for farmers as annual show begins Met Office
BBC News
08-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Chichester grower sees larger strawberries after 'perfect' spring
Record-breaking spring sunshine and "perfect" conditions are producing larger and sweeter strawberries, says one West Sussex Met Office figures show the UK experienced its warmest spring on record and its driest in over half a century in Pinkosz, operations director at The Summer Berry Company, said daytime sunshine and cooler nights in March, April and May "positively influenced our growing conditions".The company, based at Groves Farm near Chichester, uses reservoirs to help protect against droughts. Mr Pinkosz said: "What we have observed this year is the perfect conditions to develop ideal berries, which are bigger, tastier, and with better shelf life."The Summer Berry Company has 300 acres of polytunnels, according to Mr company also has 62 acres of glasshouses for producing a winter crop of the fruit, and says it supplies most major UK the bumper 2025 crop, Mr Pinkosz warned that climate change "potentially has a negative impact on growing fruit"."No fruit, in my experience, likes too hot conditions or too wet conditions," he company has, however, designed new varieties of strawberry, which it hopes will allow it to keep producing berries in harsher conditions.
