strawberry woes

[flowertot]

Hi all my strwberries (which are in their second year) are very nearly doing extremely well. Apart from the fact that I'm finding I'm having to chuck at least half that have started to rot on the stems before being picked. Is this just due to the very wet conditions we have been having? any suggestions as to anything which will stop them rotting? I also picking them a little before I'd like because of this issue, so I'd be grateful for any tips on methods to either ripen them further once picked or recipes for slightly under ripe strawbs?

[rustylady]

It's due to the horrible wet weather. I've never picked strawberries under-ripe though.

[FB.]

It's the wet weather.
Some varieties are also more prone than others. I never had a problem with Pegasus or Symphony, but Alice and Christine had some damage to to rots and moulds.
The weather conditions from one year to the next also seem to favour certain varieties suffering more form diseases in some years and different varieties suffering in other years.

[veggiechicken]

I also picking them a little before I'd like because of this issue, so I'd be grateful for any tips on methods to either ripen them further once picked or recipes for slightly under ripe strawbs?

I often pick mine slightly under-ripe, when they're mostly red all over but not the dark strawberry red that looks so tempting! If I leave them until that stage, the birds, slugs and woodlice seem to eat them before me. They ripen overnight in the kitchen.

[alldigging]

I've been trying to pick every day but haven't been able to cos of the downpours. We've probably thrown a couple of pound away that were too gross to eat.
I've had loads though and made a batch of strawberry jam today!

[ladylottie]

I haven't had any going mouldy - yet! But I have had to start picking them slightly under-ripe this last few days. The reason being I caught a squirrel red handed nibbling on a strawberry. I've recently put up squirrel proof bird feeders so I'm sure he (or she) is getting his own back. They've never bothered with the strawbs before.

[flowertot]

I quite fancy making Jam but not picking enough in one go, would they be ok frozen in small batches till Ive got enough?

[Alison]

I've probably thrown away about 5lbs worth as they've rotted but fortunately still got plenty for jam etc. Very rare I make jam with them fresh though due to lack of time and find them absolutely fine from frozen.

[Leeds_lad]

You can pick then while they are still green and put them on a plate near a window sil. They will go red in a couple of days

[Bigmallly]

I've not had any problems due to the weather but have lost about 30% to ants.............

[flowertot]

I've not had any problems due to the weather but have lost about 30% to ants.............

Yep finding to odd one full of ants too, oh and funny little beetles too. Still, managing to pick about 1/2 a pound every other day from 16 plants which I'm quite pleased about - seeing as the bird scoffed every single berry bar 1 last year.