It's Year 2 of my strawberry patch, and I've had two berry harvests so far this month. The picture above is a pint I harvested last Wednesday.
A few days before, I had harvested a half-pint from my patch. We ate the berries as snacks and mixed some into smoothies. The next batch we harvest may have to go into pancakes or a shortcake.
We went to my father-in-law's for the weekend, and when we got back yesterday afternoon, I noticed more red in the patch. It's raining pretty hard today, but I need to go out and harvest those ripe berries. I'm happy to see that some of them are pretty big!
My FIL's friend Al (who has an amazing vegetable garden in Oklahoma), suggested that we pinch of the buds during the strawberry plants' first year. This helps establish the plants and encourages greater growth in the second year. I got that advice too late, and didn't snip any buds off last year. But our strawberries this year are bigger and more prolific than they were last year anyway. We love strawberries, and I'm happy to have some home-grown berries to harvest and add a little burst of color to the garden.
Today I'm linking up with Daphne's Dandelions' Harvest Monday and joining others in showing off our harvests.
p.s. A post I wrote last year on how to freeze strawberries.
The strawberries look delicious!
ReplyDeleteI never pinch off blooms in the first year, but I get them in very early so that the plants have a chance to form a good root system before attempting to flower and fruit.
Thanks! I didn't pinch of blooms either, but I don't think it made a difference. The plants seem very healthy. I hope you're getting good strawberry harvests too.
DeleteOh yum - they look splendiforous - still waiting for mine - the first taste when they are still warm from the plant is the best
ReplyDeleteYES--I've eaten quite a few off the plant!
DeleteDon't you just love home grown berries? So much sweeter and more flavorful than store bought! I've got to figure out how to increase my patch about 100 fold!
ReplyDeleteOh those look SO bright and delicious! The taste of home-grown strawberries just can't compare with store-bought. This year I have only some tiny baby alpine strawberries grown from seed - probably will have to wait until next year for berries :-(
ReplyDeleteNice berries. They look delicious.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing like fresh strawberries you grew yourself!
ReplyDeleteI just planted some strawberries a few years ago. How many plants do you have in your patch.
ReplyDeleteWe have about 10 plants in a raised bed that my husband built. A couple have died off, but the others have grown nicely.
DeleteYou are having a great strawberry harvest! Your fruits have a nice glossy shine. Mine are still in their first year and I am cutting the flowers with a heavy heart. I hope my harvest next year will be as good as yours.
ReplyDeleteOh more beautiful strawberries...........We are in the last couple of weeks of Autumn so quite a while before we can enjoy the sweet taste.............Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteSo jealous of your strawberries. The look great! :)
ReplyDeleteMy strawberry bed is in year two. I so love having home grown strawberries again. And today it is raining here. They need picking, but I'm waiting until tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous strawberries!
ReplyDeletethose look yummy...mine are Ok against the house but slim pickings out in the patch...we shall see
ReplyDeleteI love fresh berries from the garden, and yours look scrumptious! Ours are just coming ripe now, although the slugs seem to have taken a bite out of about half them this year. Glad to see yours are blemish free!
ReplyDeleteYum! I'm hoping I'll have Strawberries in my CSA share next week! You have me salivating for them!
ReplyDeleteThat's incredible! You must be thrilled...I can imagine they taste a zillion times better than anything we get at the grocery store!
ReplyDeleteOh my those look delicious!!! You are tempting me to grow them this year, they look divine! That's it, I'm off to the store today for some starts, hope it's not to late...yum! And congrats on a beautiful crop =)
ReplyDeleteI love strawberries warm from the garden. What a great patch you have!!
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm beginning to get a little jealous of everyone's beautiful strawberry crops. Mine have not done so well lately. They look so delicious! What variety do you have?
ReplyDeleteLoretta, I have Quinalt (everbearing) and a wild strawberry. I'm not sure what the wild one is, maybe Pink Panda but I'm not positive.
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