The successful cultivation of strawberries in the garden and on the balcony results in an opulent fruit display. Harvesting strawberries needs to be learned, as there are small mistakes lurking here. We reveal which factors make the difference.
How do you harvest strawberries correctly?
To harvest strawberries correctly, you should identify ripe fruits by looking for complete color, a plump but not hard pressure point and a typical strawberry scent. Harvest early in the morning from the fruit stalk and remove moldy strawberries immediately.
Identifying ripe strawberries
The start of the harvest season is determined by the weather and the individual ripening time of the strawberry variety grown. In an average growing year, the starting signal is given in May. From this point on you can look for ripe strawberries. Ripe fruits can be recognized by these characteristics:
- the strawberry is completely colored
- no yellowish-white border is visible
- When lightly pressed, the shell feels plump but not hard
- ripe fruits exude the inimitable strawberry scent
Overripe strawberries quickly take on a mushy consistency. In this state they have already lost the sweet-sour, refreshing aroma. In addition, they give off a musty, fermented smell. For this reason, harvesting the little vitamin bombs too early has no advantages. Strawberries do not have the natural ability to ripen.
Always pick strawberries by the fruit stem
So that the sensitive fruits survive being separated from the plant undamaged, they are picked off the fruit stalk together with a piece. The small green sepals remain on the strawberry. With this little trick you can ensure that the delicious strawberry juice doesn't run out.
Harvest at the right time of day
In the early morning hours, the aroma content in strawberries is at its highest level. Under the heat of the afternoon sun, the taste deteriorates significantly. Harvesting during a rain shower is also not advisable, as wetness also affects the enjoyment of the fruit.
Dispose of moldy strawberries
The slightest damage causes mold to form on a strawberry. Therefore, sort out fruits for immediate consumption that did not survive the harvesting process unscathed. If moldy spots are already visible, the entire fruit is discarded. The spores have definitely already spread throughout the strawberry, so cutting them out is not enough.
Tips & Tricks
Strawberries should not touch the ground while growing because they are at risk of rot and gray mold. A thick layer of straw mulch reliably prevents this problem and at the same time reliably suppresses annoying weeds.