Strawberries, ahh strawberries. The Strawberry Fairy has come to West-Friesland, bringing juicy memories of sweet strawbs right off the plant, breakfast strawbs, strawberry shortcake and of course…jam. I recall when they first showed colour. Just another few days and we had our first harvest; small but we enjoyed it with gusto. We had enough for this: As the days went by, the voles became more greedy. They were taking almost as much as we were. Finally the plants in this bed began yielding an enormous amount, there was enough for us and them. Not that I wanted to share, I just could not catch those little hufters. From that point we were harvesting so much so fast that we actually had too much. We were jamming, giving away and eating them all kinds of ways. Jam stock replacement was the main focus. Making jam is a warm job but sorta fun and great to see on the pantry shelves. Our technique is refined and the actual process goes quickly. I mean, I enjoy the process, but the real fun happens at the end after the jars are filled and we wait for them to cool. This is where the technical expertise comes in— we have to flip those scalding hot jars every 5-7 minutes. We are waiting for two things to happen: the fruit bits to equally suspend in the jelling jam. Of course the real fun is waiting for the lids to “CLICK” in. Every time one does, we shout out “number two!” , or “number three!”. We like waiting for those clicks and counting them off. Naturally if one clicks as one of us is carefully flipping the jar over there is then a loud objection. They must do it “naturally”, you see. Right then, you are probably thinking, “ All well and good, but how does the thread title fit in”? No, we are not pulling the wool over your eyes and actually buying our strawberries. Honest. Take a look: Yeah, yeah— it is only two for the price of one. You got me there. Stay with me, here is he then— look at the reflection on the granite. Another angle: We have never had this before, and I do not know which plant it is that is giving this anomaly. Interesting though. Well, that was it for the strawberry story. I hope that you guys have success with your harvests this year, I saw that Odif did well.
OMG Sjoerd that pic of your strawberries makes my mouth water. Will be by soon to help you pick. We have huge strawberry fields near us well all fruits plums, peaches, blueberries etc. Farmers put out U-Pick signs I have a big problem when picking fresh fruit I eat half of it before taken to weigh it to pay… I generally fess up and tell them to add a pound or two especially strawberries.
They look fantastic Sjoerd. Isn't that a funny looking little berry. Not quite a bum berry....maybe a nosy berry. I'm so happy you and your bride enjoyed your harvest. I never have the patience to flip my jars - I'm very impressed with your diligence. I've been meaning to ask about your jars. They look very different than ours. Are your lids reusable?
YUM! That looks amazing! I was just saying to the kids that we need to go strawberry picking this year because we need to make jam! But I also like the look of your dessert with whipped creme!
Ta Pac. I am glad you liked them. Some extra hands picking would be soooooo welcome. Hiya Mel— yes, those little guys look like several different things actually. Ha, ha, ha…yeah that jar flipping does take some discipline. Chortle The tops are a two-step opening system. You do not need a great deal of strength. They are re-useable. Thank you so much, Daniel. What a nice thing to say. I hope you folks manage to make it to the picking place. Of course the main focus was jamming, but the strawberry shortcake with whipped cream is a summer must for us. Loggie—This bed has twenty plants in it. They really are yummy.
Cayu, you had better not look too long then, as with there temps, dehydration could be dangerous to your health. Cheers mate., Yes Loggie, it’s good innit. We have a second bed of twenty plants just beginning to yield harvestables now. It was set up this way for an extended harvest period of the strawbs. Actually it is all too much, we cannot use or give away so much. We have been eating strawds in some form twice a day now for a couple of weeks. I have just about had enough. Haha. I can’t believe I said that ! Yesterday we told some neighbours at the gardening allotments to come and pick as much as he wanted. My Bride had to add not to be bashful or restrained. You have to do that here because most folks are so respectful, and greediness is not a label that one would want to have. I know it sounds ridiculous, but you really do have to keep insisting and re-affirming that it is oké. Ha ha.
Sjoerd perhaps you should make some more jam, it keeps very well, we have strawbs on our breakfast every morning along with a lot of other fruits.
Loggie, I already have more than twenty pots of jam in the pantry, and two types of blueberry and plums are still to come. I don’t know where to put it all. This is a problem that most gardeners like having, but it is too much. I always have too much but this is ridiculous.
Sjoerd, can you put the blueberries in the freezer ? like i do, just take some out to put on our breakfast. We get too much redcurrants, white currants and gooseberries. I put them in the freezer and put a few on the breakfast as well.
Yes Loggie, I have a kilo or so in the freezer at the moment. I had too many blueberries last year. I made 32 pots of jam and just froze the rest. They are good for making jam later, in yoghurt or cheesecake topping.
