Tips for Harvesting and Storing Fresh Strawberries
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Strawberry season is officially here, and I have been enjoying myself each morning and evening as I wander out to our little patch to begin hunting for ripe, red berries. We planted this patch three summers ago, so this is the first year that we have really seen it take off! The berries are coming in so quickly, it’s difficult to keep up. In this post, I want to share with you what I have learned over the years of growing and harvesting strawberries to ensure that you have an excellent season. Whether you are growing your own berries or will be heading out to a local u-pick farm, these tips for harvesting and storing fresh strawberries will be sure to help you as you venture out to the garden.
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advantages of growing your own strawberries:
Growing your own strawberries can be intimidating, but there is truly nothing more wonderful than picking and enjoying your own homegrown produce. Growing your own food is not possible for everyone, and thankfully more and more small farms are popping up all over the world so that we can share the wonderful gift that fresh, local produce is!
There are many benefits to growing strawberry plants in your garden or in containers, if you are able. Seeing as strawberries are a perennial fruit, they are a wonderful investment as they will continue to reward you season after season. They also self-propagate, meaning they will send out runners that you can pot up and turn into more plants, expanding your patch!
how long does it take strawberries to grow?
Strawberries enjoy areas with direct sunlight, and they need at least 6 to 8 hours of sun each day to produce their bright red berries. They also prefer well-draining soil that is slightly acidic. If you have raised beds or small raised planters, strawberries love these!
Once strawberries have been planted, it usually takes about 3 months before they begin to bare fruit. This will depend on the stage of growth they are in when you planted them and where you live. Strawberries can be grown perennially in hardiness zones 4 to 9. Berries reach their peak production around year 2 to 3, then they will begin to taper off in production. This is why they send off runners, as the runners will be more vigorous than the original plant. It’s best to only allow 3 runners to remain from an original plant, and transplant any other it sends off.
tools for harvesting strawberries:
When it comes to harvesting strawberries, there aren’t many tools that you need. Just your fingers and a basket or your shirt will work! However, here are some tools that I enjoy using while out picking strawberries to save time and arm space:
Basket. A good woven basket is usually the preferred choice for me when picking berries! It’s lightweight and does not squash the berries like a fabric tote or bowl might.
Sharp Garden Scissors. Some people say that plucking the fruit can damage the plant, and this can happen as the roots are shallow. Using a pair of garden scissors or pruners can help to prevent any plant damage. Make sure that you dip your scissors in a vinegar/water solution before snipping to prevent the spread of disease from other plants!
Garden Hat. It’s always so sunny when strawberry picking, so bring along a cute garden hat to protect yourself and provide some shade!
when are strawberries ready to pick?
There are different types of strawberries: June-bearing, Everbearing, and Day-neutral strawberries. Each has different harvesting times, so its best to know what type you are growing. Most strawberry farms are open for picking during the early summer months, usually June through July.
June-bearing strawberries have the shortest lifespan, and they produce their fruit during the first three weeks of June (this will depend on the season!). June-bearing strawberries produce a lot of fruit, though you won’t get any until the second year of its lifespan!
what are everbearing strawberries?
Everbearing strawberries are often what is recommended to plant because they will continue to bear fruit even after the June berries are finished. They produce fruit in the spring, lightly in the summer, and then again in the fall. These are great for gardeners who enjoy lots of berries and live in a place that experiences all four seasons.
selecting the perfect strawberries:
Now that you are out in the garden, which berries should you pick? For the optimal flavor, you will want to select fruit that has completely turned red and no longer has any light pink or white spots on it. The berries will begin a bright green, then slowly fade to white and eventually develop into their signature bright red color when ripened.
Like most fruiting plants, the fruit has the best flavor when it’s left on the vine to ripen. However, if you need more time with your berries, they can be picked while they are still a bit faded white/pink and will ripen on their own on the countertop in a few days. However, they might not be as flavorful.
Snip at the little stem and gather your berries into your basket.
how to store fresh strawberries:
Now that you have picked your strawberries, what should you do with them? To learn how to properly store your strawberries, here are a few tips:
Do Not Wash Them. Yet! Strawberries have a protective coating on them called a “bloom” and washing them can cause the berries to go bad faster. If you are not planning to eat your berries right away, leave them unwashed for now. Then, wash them as right before you are ready to eat or bake with them.
Refrigerate. It’s best to refrigerate your strawberries as soon as possible. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, making sure that they are not being crushed as they can bruise easily. Berries that have been freshly picked and stored this way should last about 6 to 8 days.
Freeze Them. If you would like to keep your berries for longer but still use them in baked goods later, you can easily freeze your berries! Remove the green tops and wash the berries. Then, either leave them whole or cut in halves. Place the berries on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper and pop them into your freezer until fully hardened. Then, place the frozen berries into freezer bags or containers, label, and store for 1 year or longer.
Preserve Them. There are several ways to preserve fresh strawberries to enjoy later! Try making Strawberry Jam, Strawberry Jelly, Dehydrate them, or freeze dry them.
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how long do fresh strawberries last?
Fresh strawberries do not have an incredibly long shelf life, so it’s best to plan ahead with what you want to use them for! If you plan to keep your berries at room temperature, they only last about 3 to 4 days, at most.
Strawberries stored in the refrigerator last for about one week, sometimes a bit longer. Check your berries continually to make sure that they are not rotting, and rotate them as needed to prevent them from molding.
final thoughts:
Will you be growing your own strawberries this year? Or perhaps next summer? I hope that you get a chance to if you have been dreaming of growing your own plants! There is truly nothing sweeter than a fresh strawberry. They are the perfect companion plant for your backyard garden. I hope that you gathered the information you will need to grow, harvest, and store your own strawberries for the perfect summer season.
xoxo Kayla
