We all know that some fruits and veggies—like bananas and apples—are picked while they’re still green because they keep ripening on your kitchen counter. But what about strawberries? Should you pick them early, or wait for that perfect shade of red? Let’s dig into the best way to harvest these summer favorites.
Strawberries Don’t Ripen After Picking
It would be great if they did, but unfortunately, strawberries don’t have the ability to ripen once they’re off the vine. It’s a bit of a bummer because it means the window from harvest to snack-time is pretty short. Unlike some other fruits, strawberries don’t respond to ethylene gas after they’ve been picked, so their metabolism basically stops the moment they leave the plant.
This means you need to wait until they are fully ripe before you harvest them. If you still see a greenish-yellow edge near the stem, they aren’t ready yet! A perfect strawberry should be bright red all the way through and have that unmistakable, sweet aroma. Just be careful not to wait *too* long—brown spots or a mushy smell are signs they’ve gone past their prime.
Once autumn rolls around and temperatures drop, the strawberry season is officially over. Don’t bother picking the green leftovers hoping they’ll ripen indoors near a heater; it just won’t happen. You’re better off pruning those green berries away along with any withered leaves. By the way, if you do accidentally eat a green strawberry, don’t worry—they aren’t poisonous. They just won’t taste very good!
Storage Tips: Make the Most of Your Harvest
As most gardeners know, strawberries have a notoriously short shelf life. We’ve all been there: you buy a pint at the store, forget about them for two days, and suddenly they’re a mushy mess. Freshly picked berries from your garden are the same way. Honestly, they taste best when they go straight from the plant into your mouth (after a quick rinse, of course!). That’s when the flavor is most intense.
However, if you can’t eat them all at once, there are a few tricks to keep them fresh for a couple of extra days. First, gently remove any dirt and give them a wash. Pro tip: don’t blast them under a heavy faucet stream, as this can bruise the delicate fruit. Instead, give them a gentle soak in a bowl of water and pat them dry carefully. Store them in the fridge in an open container to allow for airflow. If you really want to keep that summer flavor lasting longer, you can always freeze your strawberries. This way, you can enjoy your harvest for another eight to ten months!
