Harvesting Strawberry Plants

Are you ready to enjoy delicious homegrown fruit? Harvest is the time to enjoy the results of your hard work. Keep a few things in consideration as you reap the fruits of your labor: the best time to pick the fruit from your tree, and how to store the fruit.

NOTE: This is part 11 in a series of 11 articles. For a complete background on how to grow strawberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.

When to Harvest

You can start your strawberry harvest in the second season. Pick your strawberries in the early morning while they are cool. For the sweetest fruit pick your berries when they are fully red in color. Snap the stem directly above the ripe berry.
Strawberries are easily bruised so be careful when picking. Keep your picking container in a cool, shady location. Don’t overload your container or you will crush the fruit on the bottom.

Refrigerate your berries immediately after harvest they only keep for a few days. Washing can speed up spoiling so don’t wash your berry until ready to use.

Annual average yield:

  • Per June bearing plant, 1 pint
  • Per everbearing plant, ½ - 1 pound

Storage

If not able to use right away put berries on a cookie sheet in a single layer and freeze until firm and then put them in freezer bags to enjoy all year long.

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Tools & Supplies for Strawberry Plants