When is the right time to pick strawberries in the garden? And what is the best way to store and preserve them after harvest?
Strawberries (Fragaria) have long since become a true classic in many gardens. But the harvest is often only considered in the summer after planting. However, the harvest time of the delicious fruits is already determined when selecting the variety and planting. In the following you will find out everything about the right time to harvest your strawberries and we give tips on correct storage and preservation.
Pick Strawberries
The harvest mainly depends on the variety. It's also important to note that strawberries don't ripen after they're picked, so ripeness at harvest time is critical.
Harvest time for strawberries
The ripening time of strawberries depends on the strawberry variety. Most strawberries ripen in June. However, depending on the weather, early-ripening varieties bear ripe strawberries as early as May, while late-ripening varieties sometimes continue into September. Varieties that bear fruit several times usually bear fruit once at the beginning of the strawberry season and then again after a break of several weeks. If you plant it cleverly and have enough space available, you can harvest strawberries from your own garden all summer long. For a 4-person household, this requires an area of at least 8 m22 and a combination of early, mid-early and late-ripening varieties, possibly also monthly strawberries or varieties that bear multiple crops. You can find out more about the different strawberry varieties here in our special article.
By using so-called frigo strawberries, the harvest date can be determined much more precisely. They mature about eight weeks after planting. Due to the better planning of their harvest time, Frigo plants are therefore particularly popular in commercial cultivation. These are offshoots that are only separated from the mother plant in late autumn. They are then already very far developed, their flower differentiation is already complete. However, these offshoots would no longer grow well in late fall and are thereforefrozen. The plants are sorted according to strength based on the rhizome diameter. The stronger and more expensive Frigo plants (so-called A+ quality) bear fruit for the first time eight weeks after planting.
Note: Frigo plants that are planted in May, for example, have to take root in the hot summer weather, which means that the usual "spring development" falls in quite high temperatures. Irrigation is therefore sometimes unavoidable.
Summary of harvest time for strawberries:
- A distinction is made between early, mid-early and late ripening strawberry varieties as well as between one-bearing and multiple-bearing strawberry varieties
- Depending on the variety, harvest is from May to the end of August or even the beginning of September
- With a good combination of early and late-ripening varieties: Harvest possible throughout the summer (recommended for 4-person households with an area of 8 m+2)
- So-called Frigo plants (A+ quality) can be harvested about 8 weeks after planting, depending on the weather
Pick Strawberries: Instructions
Since strawberries do not ripen, a white tip on picked strawberries will not be red even after a few days. Therefore, strawberries should always be harvested when they are fully ripe. This is the only way they can develop all their wonderful flavors and all their sweetness. In order to harvest the strawberries when they are fully ripe, it is advisable to pick them 2 to 3 times a week. If you don't want to eat the strawberries directly in the bed, you should harvest them in the morning. Then the fruits are even cooler and can be stored better.
You can also find tips for planting strawberries here.
Storing and preserving strawberries
Strawberries are very sensitive fruits and unfortunately don't keep very long fresh. Many varieties that are grown in commercial orchards have been selected for their ability to be stored. That's why strawberries from the supermarket (which were usually picked the day before) usually keep quite well in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. However, most hobby gardeners tend to plant varieties that have been selected for taste rather than shelf life. These strawberries should preferably not be stored for longer than 2 days, otherwise these particularly tasty fruits lose a lot of their aroma and their consistency decreases considerably. Cooking jam has always been a proven way to preserve strawberries for a longer period of time, as well as preserving strawberries or compote.
Keep strawberries in the fridge
Fresh strawberries should definitely be kept in the fridge. They should be placed in shallow bowls so that the fruit does not overlap. If possible, you should not put the fruit in the coolest compartment of the refrigerator, but in the vegetable compartment, for example.
Freezing Strawberries
A major problem when freezing water-based fruit such as strawberries or raspberries is the slush that often forms after thawing. This can be avoided more or less well if you don't put the fruit in a deep box and freeze it, but pre-freeze it individually. After washing (in a bowl of standing water!) and patting dry with paper towels, the fruit is placed on a plate, board or tray. The fruits should not touch. This plate is placed in the freezer and taken out again after two hours. The fruit will then be sufficiently frozen to transfer to a box or freezer bag. Then put it back in the freezer as usual. Frozen strawberries should be thawed and eaten immediately after about 8 months at the latest.
Depending on the purpose for which the frozen fruit is to be used, the strawberries can also be pureed in boxes or frozen in portions. Filled into ice cube trays, small portions can be defrosted, for example for muesli or as decoration. You can also use the strawberries to make ice cream immediately after harvest and then freeze them.
Strawberries do not necessarily have to grow in beds for a bountiful harvest. Here's how you can easily grow strawberries on the balcony.