| Estimated Cost |
$1,900 to $2,500 per acre establishment and annual production; harvest late March to early April |
| Market Outlets |
Pick your own, farmers markets, roadside |
| Market Potential |
Good, but competitive California prices are very low |
| Profit Potential |
$0 to $1,000 per acre |
| Adapted Areas |
South of Houston, San Antonio and Del Rio |
| Labor Requirements |
One man per 2 acres; at harvest 10 people per acre |
| Equipment Requirements |
Tractor, bedding disk, planter, plastic mulch machine, drip irrigation, sprayer |
| Soil Requirements |
Sandy soil only |
| Water Requirements |
Minimum of 1 inch per week; good quality sprinkler irrigation at planting and drip irrigation during production |
| Minimum Size |
1/4 acre |
| Risk Factor |
High |
| Other Limiting Factors |
Spring freeze and high summer temperatures limit production period to only 4 to 8 weeks each spring in late March and early April. Planting, irrigation and harvesting are major management goals. Mites, leaf spot and grey mold are major pests. |
| Comments |
Extremely hard stoop labor requirement at planting and harvesting, plus high establishment costs has limited strawberry acerage in Texas. It is currently only in areas with sandy soil and top quality water. |
