Strawberries are red, berry-like fruits that are well-known for their sweet flavor and enticing aroma. They are unusual for their seeds, which grow on the exterior of the fruit rather than on the inside. The strawberries most commonly eaten today are descendants of the wild strawberry, which is believed to be native to North America. The first garden strawberries were bred in Europe in the 18th century, but strawberries were not cultivated in the United States until the 1800s. Wild strawberries still grow widely across North America, and although the tiny berries are very labor intensive to harvest, they are singularly sweet and flavorful. Because strawberries are quite susceptible to pests and diseases, commercially grown strawberries are some of the most heavily sprayed crops. Furthermore, many commercial strawberry varieties have been bred for size rather than flavor, making home-grown strawberries an especially desirable treat.

Growing Tips

The first step toward growing great strawberries is to pick a sunny site with well-drained soil. The fewer weeds there are, the better! Strawberries need quite a bit of fertilizer, so be sure to have plenty of compost on hand. You’ll need to pick a variety of strawberry that is well-suited to New England growing conditions–your best bet is to visit a local nursery and ask for a reliable cultivar. Decide whether you want “June-bearers” or “ever-bearers.” As you may have guessed, the former produces fruit only early in the summer, while the latter continues to produce throughout the summer (though not as vigorously). Plant the dormant roots as soon as soil can be worked in the spring with the woody stem-like part (the “crown”) up toward the surface. Keep young plants well-watered. For June-bearers, pluck off blossoms the first year so plants can get established–your patience will be rewarded the second year. Mulch well with straw. Plants generally produce good yields for about 3 years.

Storage

Strawberries are very fragile and do not store well, so eat as soon as possible.  If you must store strawberries, be sure to remove any damaged berries from the container and store (unwashed, with the stems still attached) in the refrigerator for up to a few days. Cut out the leafy, stem-like portion just before serving.  For long-term storage, consider freezing berries or making jam.

Nutritional Benefits

Strawberries are very high in Vitamin C, potassium, and folic acid. They also have a compound called “ellagic acid,” which is believed to help combat the formation of certain cancer cells. Strawberries can cause hives in certain individuals or exacerbate existing food allergies, so proceed with caution if you have never eaten them before.

Preparation

Always wash berries just before eating. Fresh strawberries are delicious eaten raw, but they are often prepared in other ways as well. They can be cooked down into jam, added to home-made ice-cream, paired with rhubarb and made into pies, or tossed with sugar and served with shortcakes and cream.

Kate Pace, a volunteer baking, tasting and testing recipes out of the Vermont Fresh Guide tried out this Quick Strawberry Jam recipe.  She included information on prep and cook time, as well as extra info in the instructions.  You can find Kate on Facebook and Twitter.

Recipe: Quick Strawberry Jam

Serves 4-6 over ice cream or makes 8 PB&J sandwiches
Prep = 15 minutes, Cook 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 quart Strawberries (*if you can’t remember what the sign said at the Farmer’s Market (did you get a ‘pint’ or a ‘quart’) you can measure out 1.5 lbs. or 4 cups quartered) (via Fine Cooking)
• ½ cup Sugar (we used organic cane sugar)
• 2 T lemon juice

Instructions

1. Hull Strawberries. There is, of course, a neat little kitchen tool made to hull strawberries but you can also do it with a paring knife. Slice into the berry vertically, aside the stem, and work around until it pops out. Saves so much of the fruit!
2. Pulse a few times in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Do not puree the berries! You can chop by hand instead if desired.
3. Transfer to a heavy-bottomed saucepan and turn heat to medium-high. Add sugar and lemon juice.
4. Cook, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes until the mixture thickens and bubbles. This growing season saw tons of rain and our local strawberries seemed to take longer to thicken. When ten minutes has passed, keep your eye out for the spoon to leave a parting when you draw it through the pan for a second or two.
5. Carefully, transfer mixture to a glass jar, allow to cool, and refrigerate. Note: When the jam is prepared this way, it is not shelf-stable, meaning it should be stored in the fridge and consumed within ten days. It can also be frozen.