So how do you know when a strawberry is ready to pick? The first thing you want to check is the color of the strawberry. The strawberry should be red and juicy-looking. You also want to make sure that the cap (the part on top) is still attached and not shriveled up. Another sign that a strawberry is ripe is if it feels soft when you squeeze it.
Not all varieties of strawberries are ready simultaneously, so it’s essential to know which type you are growing. If you’re increasing June-bearing strawberries, they will be prepared to harvest in late spring or early summer. If you’re growing ever-bearing or day-neutral strawberries, they will be ready to gather in the summer and fall.
Handling Strawberries
When picking strawberries, you want to make sure that you are careful when handling them. You can damage a strawberry when it is being picked if too much pressure is applied from your fingers. They can also slip out of hand on their way down into a container below. If possible, try not to get any dirt on them either, as this will cause mold growth and shorten shelf life.
It’s best to use a container with holes in the bottom like an egg carton when picking strawberries. If you’re going to select them for later, make sure that they aren’t touching each other, so there is room to breathe and keep freshness better when transporting over long distances. Strawberries are ready when their skin turns from greenish-white (they will still be stiff) into bright reds with dark seeds on top of them.
Storing Strawberries
Another important thing about picking strawberries is how you store them after harvesting. You can refrigerate or freeze your berries depending on how much time until consumption! Freshly picked berries should last up to five days in the refrigerator, but only three if left at room temperature. If you’re going to freeze them, they should be able to last up to a year when stored correctly in an airtight container with no contact from moisture – which means not touching each other when placed inside freezer bags or plastic containers where air cannot get between layers of fruit!
Strawberries are so delicious when picked at the right time and handled gently for optimal freshness. But, of course, now that you know how long it takes to have those sweet berries ready for eating, all there’s left is making sure everything else, like growing conditions (soil type), has been taken care of first!
This concludes our blog post about when to pick strawberries. This summer, we hope that this guide will help you enjoy your harvest more!