Experienced hobby gardeners know that tomatoes or apples ripen without any problems. If necessary, the fruits are harvested without further ado when they are unripe. You can find out here whether this also works for strawberries.

If the miracle weapon ethylene does not ignite

It would be so easy if, at the end of the harvest, the countless unripe strawberries still had a chance to ripen. Unfortunately, they are not among the climatic fruits, like tomatoes, bananas or apples. In this case, the ripening gas ethylene does not cause the metabolism to continue in strawberries. In principle, this means the following premises for the harvest:

  • Harvest strawberries only when they are fully ripe
  • as long as a greenish-yellow edge can still be seen, the fruits remain on the plant

If the temperatures drop well below 15 degrees Celsius in autumn, even the most robust strawberry varieties will no longer produce ripe fruit. By then at the latest, all immature specimens are cut off and disposed of, along with the withered parts of the plant.

Store strawberries correctly - the alternative to post-ripening

As fruits that are not subject to climatic conditions or do not ripen later, strawberries have a very low storage potential. Without any preservation measures, the fruits are no longer enjoyable after 1 to 2 days. Strawberries taste particularly good fresh from the bed or balcony. What is not eaten immediately only retains its inimitable aroma if stored appropriately. You should pay attention to this:

  • Always wash strawberries first and then clean them
  • store in a colander at room temperature if consumed on the same day
  • Store strawberries in open Tupperware in the fridge
  • Freeze the fruit for a storage period of up to 10 months

Unripe strawberries are not poisonous. Fruits with a green-white edge and an otherwise red color in the flesh can be preserved with plenty of sugar. A compromise solution for all hobby gardeners who don't have the heart to dispose of unripe strawberries. Of course, there is a significant loss of quality and aroma.

tips and tricks

If you want to enjoy your fresh strawberries from the garden especially juicy, wait until just before you eat them before adding sugar. Sugar pulls the water out of the fruit. It makes no difference whether you sweeten the strawberries with granulated sugar or powdered sugar.

Category:

Vegetable garden