Wild strawberries

[sparkyaj]

I know you would say alot, but how much weight wise would you need to make some jam with?

I've eyed up a hedge row near by that I recon has about one pound in weight.

Their are also elderflowers by the tonne near by and loads of slo's.



Does anyone have any ideas what to do with these wild freeb's?

Thanks

AJ

[Shortie]

Hi Sparky

Check out this link. About half way down is the recipie for Mrs Meade's Wild Strawb Jam. Says about 1 pound - Ideal for the hedge?

http://www.tickledorange.com/LMM/Recipes.html

You're very lucky! Wild Strawbs! I've been looking to buy some to plant as they're supposed to be really tasty but we have none near us. I did find a hazelnut tree though. About my only find so far

[Alice]

Off the top of my head Sparky (I haven't made jam for a while) you can use any weight you like. For strawberries use equal amounts of sugar. So 1 pound of strawberries and 1 pound of sugar will give you 2 pounds of jam. I'll check that out for you. Looked at the link above and sure it's excellent, but a bit quaint.

[sparkyaj]

That's great ........ Thanks guys! Your STARS!

[sparkyaj]

QUESTION 2

How could I take seeds to try planting from these do you think,........is it possable? If so, I could try to collect some seeds and send some out to you if you like............ These haven't been picked to much and are a nice plump size.

I've never taken seeds from fruit to grow before so don't have much of a clue.

Keep in touch

Maybe we could start a new cultavation.......MMMMMMMMMM

[Lesley Jay]

When making jam you should get 1 2/3rd lb of jam to every 1 lb of sugar. With strawberries you need to add either a little lemon juice or redcurrant juice to help it set. You could also cook down some gooseberries first and add the strawberries to that. The gooseberries are full of pectin to set the jam and gooseberry and strawberry jam is very nice.

[nick the grief]

Never done this myself sparky, but for a guess treat them like tomatoes. Squish the strabs on some kitchen roll get them so they are really ripe. & try an get as much of the berry flesh off as possiblethen hang up to dry somwhere (grrenhouse would be good) then you could either scrape them off or sow the sheet of paper in one.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi all,

I would suggest finding a runner or young plant and just sticking it in a patch of ground. I am over-run with wild/alpine strawb plants - bought one years ago then built a shed on top of it - now we have a patio full. Gave my mother-in-law a plant earlier this year which I had uprooted by accident, told her to scratch a bit of earth and bung it down with a splash of water, now she has her own strawb patch.

Off now to see if I can pick enough to make some jam though they seem to be taking a break at the momeht. Heard on the radio a few weeks ago that early in the season these are worth £45 a pound - wish I could find someone to buy them!!!

Happy gardening,
Shirley