Fluffy Strawbs

[Chooklady]

Hello, my June fruiting strawberries are actually growing, turning deep red and taste lovely. They are in their second year and were grown from runners given to me by a friend.

The thing is, their texture is a little errrr.... fluffy inside, not firm and are a bit cotton wooly. They are watered once a week, lots of it and have 50/50 sun/shade (when it's out )

Any idea what I can do/have done to them to get this? I love my strawberries but the texture of shop bought is so much different.

[greenishfing]

Maybe you are overwatering. Mine are in the ground and I don't water them often (once this year after three weeks of no rain,

[rustylady]

Whereabouts are you Chooklady, and are your strawberries in the ground or in containers? As Greenishfing said, overwatering strawberries isn't good - they lose a lot of flavour and texture. Any idea what variety they are?

[Two_Sheds]

I don't water my strawbs at all, unless they're visibly wilting. Obvs plants in containers will need more water than those in the ground, but don't overdo it, and cut right back when the fruits are reddening, and give them as much sun as poss

[veggiechicken]

Shop bought strawberries will be picked under ripe so that they have a longer shelf life and don't bruise so easily - hence firmer

[Chooklady]

They are in the ground, not potted and I have no clue as to what variety they may be I shall stop with the watering, I only do it once a week as it is but I shall leave them for a while and see what happens to the green ones on them.

Thank you

[Chooklady]

Just to let you know, I stopped watering and have just eaten a large strawb that was just right in consistency, it doesn't take long for them to right themselves

[ancee]

You probably had a lot more just like that - but the birds probably snaffled them! The birds in my garden choose the best ones for themselves and leave the less than perfect for me they are NOT very good sharers!

[Chooklady]

Ancee, there are several cats round the gardens here and the birds are no where to be seen! Unless the cats like a nibble...hee!

[ancee]

We got a cat for that purpose. He has succeeded in scaring away the other cats (though we heard a keefuffle a few nights ago and two cats ran out of the garden our boy came in minus his collar - he was mugged!) but the birds he leaves alone! I am glad about this though as i don't mind sharing