How And When To Harvest Strawberries | Gardener's Path

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But berries that are destined for the kitchen should be harvested carefully to ensure they’ll store well.

In the morning or during a cool part of the day, head out to your plants with a pair of clean scissors and a container for collecting the berries.

This mini mod hod that’s available at Gardener’s Supply Company makes harvesting much easier because it can hold your fresh berries out of the dirt and transitions easily to the sink for washing time.

A close up square image of a mini mod hod for harvesting berries set on the ground outdoors.

Mini Mod Hod

Snip each berry off just above the calyx (the green cap) about a half-inch up the pedicel (the stem that attaches to the cap).

If you pull the berry away from the calyx, it will rot quickly – best to just eat those straight away.

A close up horizontal image of two hands from the left of the frame using a pair of scissors to pick ripe strawberries.

Don’t forget that you should wash your berries before eating if you use any type of spray on your plant. However, don’t wash them until you’re ready to eat them. Washing makes them deteriorate faster.

To make washing and storage easier, you might want to use a berry basket. Next time you buy some berries at the store, save that little green container for your home harvest.

Or go a the cuter (and much sturdier) option and pick up some stoneware harvest bowls at Wayfair.

A close up horizontal image of a set of four ceramic berry punnets isolated on a white background.

Farmhouse Ceramic Berry Basket

The berries on a wild strawberry plant go off extremely fast, so you need to be ready to grab them as soon as they ripen if that’s what you’re growing.

They don’t store well, either. I find the best strategy for harvesting wild strawberries is to head outside with a cup of iced tea and transfer the fruits from the plant directly into my mouth.

Snag Your Berries At the Peak of Perfection

There’s a narrow window of perfection and you don’t want to miss it. Heading out to the berry patch to discover rotting fruits is heartbreaking.

The same goes for biting into a fruit that is too young. Your mouth is watering and you’re imagining that first juicy bite, only to be disappointed by a firm, bitter fruit.

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the left of the frame picking ripe strawberries from the garden.

Instead, follow our tips so you can enjoy the fruit of your labor at its flavorful peak!

What kind of strawberries are you growing? What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments section below!

Interested in taking your strawberry crop to the next level? We’re here to help! Check out the following guides:

  • How to Put Strawberry Plants to Bed for the Winter
  • How to Control Gray Mold (Botrytis Rot) On Strawberries
  • 35 of the Best Strawberry Varieties for Home Gardeners
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© Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photos via Gardener’s Supply Company and Wayfair. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock.

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