Why this yr’s strawberries are set to be sweeter

This yr’s strawberries are “markedly” sweeter than regular, a grower has stated, after the 2025 season bought off to a “stonking begin”.

A “superb spring” this yr has contributed to a “actually good crop” of strawberries, in response to Marion Regan, the managing director of Hugh Lowe Farms – which provides strawberries to the Wimbledon tennis match, set to start out on 30 June.

Ms Regan, who has grown strawberries for greater than half a century, advised the BBC that, whereas this yr’s strawberries have been a “good dimension” to date, the “most marked factor” is how candy they’ve been.

Strawberries are identified to be sweeter when the times are vibrant and the nights are cool, which allows the vegetation to relaxation in a single day and use the extra plentiful power gained throughout the day to provide extra pure sugars.

With a complete of 228.9 sunshine hours, almost 50 per cent increased than common in earlier years, this April was the UK’s sunniest since data started in 1910, in response to the Met Workplace.

It’s also the driest spring in 61 years, and the Setting Company is warning that there’s a “medium” threat of a drought this summer season except vital rainfall arrives.

Noting that whereas “all farmers may do with the rain”, Ms Regan stated she has irrigation techniques in place to make sure her crops obtain a gentle provide of water all through the strawberry rising season, which lasts till November.

The spate of heat, sunny climate has continued for many this weekend, with the Met Workplace forecasting highs of 23C in some areas – making components of the nation hotter than Ibiza.

Temperatures are set to stay gentle this week, with a mix of sunshine and showers anticipated earlier than a climate system shifting in from the Atlantic brings extra unsettled situations heading into the financial institution vacation weekend, in response to the Met Workplace.

Ms Regan’s remarks echoed these from fellow strawberry growers earlier within the season.

Pauline Goodall, a farmer from Limington advised the BBC earlier this month that her fruits have been “simply ripening at an exceptional fee” because of the hotter climate, whereas the Summer season Berry Firm, close to Chichester, stated its vegetation have been producing “lush-sweet tasting fruit”.