Topic: When to remove ripe strawberries?

[Digitalis]

I have some strawberries that pretty much look ripe. But, on some plants they are at different stages of ripeness. Can I just pick the ripe ones when they are fully red?

Will new strawberries grow? Does picking them force more to grow, or do you only get one crop a year?

[manicscousers]

keep picking the ripe ones, with a bit of luck, more flowers will form, depending on the variety  ;D

[Tee Gee]

Does picking them force more to grow,

No!!

Unless they flower again.

This can happen in some seasons but I wouldn't bet on it!

[saddad]

Before the kids get them....  ;D

[realfood]

I tend to grow the "perpetual" flowering type of strawberries, which will produce 2 or 3 flushes of fruit during the season.

[Plot69]

I'm fed up with picking bloody strawberries! 40lb+ so far with no end in sight. I picked two bowls full this evening and stopped when both bowls were full. I ended up walking with such a stoop, the woman on the next plot asked what I was looking for. Told her to go and help herself.

This is bubbling away as I type...

[Hosta]

How can you be fed up with strawberries !!   :o

I havent had any yet,  just plenty green ones at the moment !

[landimad]

Hosta,
Looks like you are in the same boat as me plenty of green ones and no juicy red ones yet. Give them chance to ripen off and we will see a red grin from the juice on your lips. ;D

[KathrynH]

Just pick them when they look ready - you can tell by the look and smell. Once you have started you will find that they continue to ripen on a daily basis so keep checking and you'll be picking them every day for the next couple of weeks.

[Plot69]

How can you be fed up with strawberries !!   :o

I never said I was fed up with strawberries, just picking the bloody things. Why can' they grow 5 foot high like raspberries so I don't have to bend over all the time?

There's nothing better than hot home made scones straight from the oven with home made strawberry jam and clotted cream.

So far we've got through 4 liters of Cornish ice cream, 2 liters of double cream, 6 cans of zuzzy cream and 20lb of sugar, not to mention all the jars... Who said growing your own wasn't expensive?

[landimad]

How can you be fed up with strawberries !!   :o

I never said I was fed up with strawberries, just picking the bloody things. Why can' they grow 5 foot high like raspberries so I don't have to bend over all the time?

There's nothing better than hot home made scones straight from the oven with home made strawberry jam and clotted cream.

So far we've got through 4 liters of Cornish ice cream, 2 liters of double cream, 6 cans of zuzzy cream and 20lb of sugar, not to mention all the jars... Who said growing your own wasn't expensive?

Are you sure you and Christine Walden are not related

[Plot69]

Are you sure you and Christine Walden are not related

No, I don't speak funny  :)

[Baaaaaaaa]

Why can' they grow 5 foot high like raspberries so I don't have to bend over all the time?

Either grow them on a table/trellis or dig a 4 ft deep trech for you to stand in when harvesting.

[kt.]

I'm fed up with picking bloody strawberries! 40lb+

How many plants for that lot?

I have about 50 plants but ain't getting anywhere near that amount, about 15% so far,  bugs have had more than me.  The plants are 4 years old now so should I take runners or just start with new plants?

[Ninnyscrops.]

I'm fed up with picking bloody strawberries! 40lb+ so far with no end in sight. I picked two bowls full this evening and stopped when both bowls were full. I ended up walking with such a stoop, the woman on the next plot asked what I was looking for. Told her to go and help herself.

This is bubbling away as I type...

Do you do the "piece" of butter thingy to stop the frothing Plot 69? I've not tried this yet and can't get my head around butter in the jam brew.

Linda

[PurpleHeather]

Back to the topic.

Once they start to go red they will finish ripening on the window sill.

Better if you can let them ripen on the vine, but if you can not get to the allotment to pick daily... No point in wasting any.

Any one tried the strawberry vodka?

Pound of strawberries chopped.
Pound of sugar
Pint of vodka,

stir daily for a week bottle the booze and eat the fruit. The fruit makes a great trifle. Nothing wasted.

[Plot69]

Either grow them on a table/trellis or dig a 4 ft deep trech for you to stand in when harvesting.

;D Best idea yet  ;D

[Plot69]

Do you do the "piece" of butter thingy to stop the frothing Plot 69? I've not tried this yet and can't get my head around butter in the jam brew.

Linda

You'd need to speak to my wife about the technical side of jam making but yes, she did put a few large knobs of butter in while I was stirring. I didn't know it was anything to do with froth though, thought it was to make it nice and shiny  ???