FARMINGTON -- So far, central and western Maine strawberry growers have escaped the worst of the recent spring frosts and plan to harvest in June.

Farmington grower David Pike has rows of plants in several acres across from Hannaford on Routes 2 and 4. He has been prepared but not alarmed.

"I have my rows covered in some places, and I can turn on the irrigation system to spray the blossoms if the frost alarm comes on," he said.

His rows are higher than the ground, and when the cold air sinks, that extra elevation often will be enough to protect delicate blossoms, he said.

The strawberry blossoms are safe until their temperature falls below 28 degrees, he said.

McGrath Strawberry Farm in South China plans to be open, as usual, toward the end of June. "We didn't see any damage from the frosts," Carrie McGrath said.

Her husband James didn't take any special precautions, but he won't know for another few days if any of the plants on their four acres lost their blossoms.

Vaughn Rasar of the Rome Strawberry Patch said he was relieved to see that none of his acre-and-a-half of plants sustained damage. "We spray potassium as a nutrient, and it acts like an antifreeze for the plants. Also, we don't have as many blossoms yet as some of the other places," he said. He anticipates opening his fields by the end of June but suggested pickers call ahead.