Pick up know-how for tackling diseases, pests and weeds.
Farm bill, farm marketing, agribusiness webinars, & farm policy.
Find tactics for healthy livestock and sound forages.
Scheduling and methods of irrigation.
Explore our Extension locations around the state.
Commercial row crop production in Arkansas.
Agriculture weed management resources.
Use virtual and real tools to improve critical calculations for farms and ranches.
Learn to ID forages and more.
Explore our research locations around the state.
Get the latest research results from our county agents.
Our programs include aquaculture, diagnostics, and energy conservation.
Keep our food, fiber and fuel supplies safe from disaster.
Private, Commercial & Non-commercial training and education.
Specialty crops including turfgrass, vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals.
Find educational resources and get youth engaged in agriculture.
Gaining garden smarts and sharing skills.
Timely tips for the Arkansas home gardener.
Creating beauty in and around the home.
Maintenance calendar, and best practices.
Coaxing the best produce from asparagus to zucchini.
What’s wrong with my plants? The clinic can help.
Featured trees, vines, shrubs and flowers.
Ask our experts plant, animal, or insect questions.
Enjoying the sweet fruits of your labor.
Herbs, native plants, & reference desk QA.
Growing together from youth to maturity.
Crapemyrtles, hydrangeas, hort glossary, and weed ID databases.
Get beekeeping, honey production, and class information.
Grow a pollinator-friendly garden.
Schedule these timely events on your gardening calendar.
Equipping individuals to lead organizations, communities, and regions.
Guiding communities and regions toward vibrant and sustainable futures.
Guiding entrepreneurs from concept to profit.
Position your business to compete for government contracts.
Find trends, opportunities and impacts.
Providing unbiased information to enable educated votes on critical issues.
Increase your knowledge of public issues & get involved.
Research-based connection to government and policy issues.
Support Arkansas local food initiatives.
Read about our efforts.
Preparing for and recovering from disasters.
Licensing for forestry and wildlife professionals.
Preserving water quality and quantity.
Cleaner air for healthier living.
Firewood & bioenergy resources.
Managing a complex forest ecosystem.
Read about nature across Arkansas and the U.S.
Learn to manage wildlife on your land.
Soil quality and its use here in Arkansas.
Learn to ID unwanted plant and animal visitors.
Timely updates from our specialists.
Eating right and staying healthy.
Ensuring safe meals.
Take charge of your well-being.
Cooking with Arkansas foods.
Making the most of your money.
Making sound choices for families and ourselves.
Nurturing our future.
Get tips for food, fitness, finance, and more!
Understanding aging and its effects.
Giving back to the community.
Managing safely when disaster strikes.
Listen to our latest episode!
by Amanda McWhirt - October 14, 2022
Many strawberry plants across Arkansas have been in the ground for a few weeks now, however due to plant availability or delays in soil preparation some plantings are just going in the ground.
There are freezing to sub-freezing temperatures predicted for the next week (10/18-10/20/22), which is likely to be an early first freeze for much of the state and potentially a hard first freeze.
Here are my recommendations regarding using row-covers in the coming weeks on fall planted strawberry crops:
In my mind there are two main issues to consider when you decided if you should apply a row cover this coming week:
Monitor closely what low temperatures they are calling for at your site. If they are calling for lows below 29F I would think seriously about covering with a 1oz cover regardless of when you planted. This cold front is likely to bring the first freezing temperatures we have had this fall. Since we haven’t had previous nights near freezing the strawberry plants are less likely to be hardened off and to have started the process of acclimating for winter. In 2019 we had a freeze on Veterans day (Nov 11th, 2019) where temps got to the low 20s across the state and resulted in cold injury to strawberry crowns on plants that were not covered with a row cover. Also be aware of differences in cold tolerance among varieties. Ruby June and Fronteras are both much more susceptible to cold injury than Chandler in our experience. Camino real is somewhere in between. If they are calling for low temperatures between 40-35F I would not plan to cover your plants, unless you planted late.
If you planted late (see Advisory: Part 1 for more info), I would recommend applying a row cover for the nights when temperatures are predicted to get below 40F this coming week. There are about 2-3 nights right now where a row cover might be necessary in the Northern part of the state. After that I would remove the covers as temperatures are predicted to return to daily highs in the 70s or above. If daily high temperatures remain cool (below 60F) leaving the row covers on for a few more weeks on late plantings may help the crop to establish.
Again keep an eye out for the low temperatures this coming week! Email if you have any questions, amcwhirt@uada.edu