NASGA SUMMER TOUR Attendees at the North American Strawberry Growers Association's 2023 Summer Tour view strawberry plantings at one of the mid-August two-day event's 10 stops in New Jersey. season when they puddle up, you can see how having them on that high bed prevents the root diseases. " Drip irrigation is routed in the fall during planting. They use irrigation below the plastic and sprinklers overhead to establish the plants and get them growing well. " It can get pretty hot here when we're planting, making it real tough with the black plastic if you don't have overhead irrigation to keep the plants cooler and a little bit moist, " Dave Specca said. " Strawberries are on black plastic because in the spring we want that soil to warm up as quickly as possible. " There is a timing adjustment for many customers who are used to a matted-row system with an earlyJune harvest window. " On plasticulture, it's Mother's Day at the latest when we open the field, " Dave Specca said. " If you're seeking season extension, earlier is better, because later you've missed the boat, " Stephen 48 | NOVEMBER 2023http://www.oescoinc.com