Textbook

Well, almost textbook. This is about as close as I will get this year I think. These were some of the sweetest strawbs I have ever had and their shapes were pretty uniform this year as well.

...There were exceptions though. This monster strawb was one of several that appeared on the plants this season.



The thing filled the entire palm of my partner. It had a delicious flavour but was not quite as sweet as some of the smaller ones.
Still, it's huge size made for an astounding foto, don't you think?

 

My mouth is watering just looking at the photos Sjoerd

 

Mine too! Wow. They are pretty. What a thrill it must have been to pop them in your mouth right off the plant! Yummy yum.

I have had some tiny berries on my plant this year but someone keeps eating them... I haven't gotten around to putting a net over them... Kinda disappointed but I've never grown strawbs before so next year will be better. I have two more plants now too.

 

You know you keep teasing us with those lucious strawberries. Those look so pretty all lined up like that. Here everyones berries are still behind. I've only been lucky to get a few so far, but deffinatly no size to them yet.

 

I hope my strawbs get anywhere near as big as yours

 

I just hope I'll get strawberries.

Your crop is delicious-looking, Sjoerd.

 

Mmmm, mmm...

Looking at all those luscious strawberries is making me drool.

 

Not talking to you! TTTHHHRRRRRR (that was a raspberry by the way. )

 

Luscious berries. Good job!

 

Those are some beautiful berries.I have found that usually my smaller ones are sweeter than the large ones.

I had a huge crop this year too, but unfortunately right as they ripened we had almost 2 straight weeks of rain and a lot of them rotted and were attacked by slugs! A lot of them had a watered down flavor somewhat like the flavor of ones you buy at the store.

 

Thank you all for the great comments.
Eileen, yes--we jammed the lot and also froze some pots for later when we make what we call, 3 or 4 or 5-berry jam. A mixture of different fruits.

Daisy--there are a number of things that eat strawbs. I always cover mine with a net and this keeps the birds off them. Slugs and snails like them too but it is more difficult to discourage them.
I saw your strawbs in pots. Will you put them in a bed next year?
The gardening is somewhat different when growing them in a bed.

Hee hee hee EJ, you make me chuckle. ...Pardon me whil I just get a Kleenex. Dab, dab, dab...yes, that's better.
Ermmm, where was I before the deluge?

Oh fooey, GardenToad--that's terrible. That watery taste is one of the main reasons that I grow my own. You have had it tough this year.
In general I find that the degree of sweetness is dependant upon the strawb tyoe more so than the size.

Thanks again for all your very nice comments.

 

I dunno, Sjoerd... I'd like to make a straw bed but I'm kind of strapped for space. I need a bigger yard...with fewer trees too. The woman ahead of me in line when I bought the strawb said it would "be fine" in a pot... and never having grown them before.. well, I popped it in a pot to watch. The 2nd one I bought at the bargain table and it has not been planted because of all the rain. Maybe today.

 

Fingers crossed. I hope the rain gives you a break...however when the plants are blooming or fruiting they do require lots of water.

 

.... well... the issue with the rain and planting... has been the rain pouring, and I mean pouring, on me.... I don't mind a little rain, but not buckets.