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Strawberries

Started by: priscus (inactive)

Just had my first strawberry of 2017.

Of course, these days, foreign, flown-in strawberries are on supermarket shelves all through winter. Pricey, but more importantly, devoid of flavour.

Valentine Day seems to be targeted by them, as opportunity to get the season's sales moving again.

I usually avoid these first offerings, and prefer to await the availability of good quality.

Anyway, today's purchase was Hereford-grown, variety= Driscoll's Lusa Grown under glass, and the Dutch-grown production has been on the shelves since mid March. Not as good as the flavour of main spring-bearing varieties what will ripen next month.

Really looking forward to own grown crop over May/June, but not a heavy production of blossom on plants this year, so I am not anticipating a heavy crop.

No strawberry wine/jam this year.

When I had greenhouses, by manipulating light, and having range of varieties, I used to get fresh strawberries ripening for ALMOST the whole twelve months.

Only two seasons to my world: Strawberry season, and Brussels Sprout season

Started: 7th Apr 2017 at 14:03

Posted by: momac (12409) 

Priscus..I've just this morning bought my first strawberries..I didn't do so
bad last year with my own but this year I want to hang them up in baskets,
have never thought of growing them in the greenhouse.
I haven't tried the ones I got this a.m...I hope they're sweet though.

Replied: 7th Apr 2017 at 14:29

Posted by: priscus (inactive)

Article linked above prompts me to believe the economics of picking, distribution and retailing, will create scenario where these newcomer varieties suit the industry, as opposed to appeal to palate of consumer.

If so, our traditional varieties will increasingly be only found in the form of own grown.

It has happened with other stuff. Seems an age since I last enjoyed an Ailsa Craig tomato or Ratte potato.

Replied: 7th Apr 2017 at 15:09
Last edited by priscus: 7th Apr 2017 at 15:22:18

Posted by: priscus (inactive)

Sorry, I can't work out why that last link is not working: it is actually consistently opening a link OTHER than the one named, but if you click there where it asks DO YOU MEAN Ratte potato, it will then take you to the link which I have typed in. very wierd

Replied: 7th Apr 2017 at 15:26

Posted by: priscus (inactive)

Quick update

This (Lusa) is a variety I shall avoid in future.

Flavour: nil after refrigeration.
Difficult to hull (de-stalk) tends to pull apart the whole berry, before stalk will release.

Replied: 9th Apr 2017 at 16:35

Posted by: i-spy (15239) 

Pick your own was a favourite with my lot. They scoffed as they picked and there wasn't much to weigh in.
Maybe that's why they all went bust

Replied: 9th Apr 2017 at 17:26

Posted by: momac (12409) 

The ones I bought were from Spain..and they're nearly tasteless.

Replied: 9th Apr 2017 at 19:46

Posted by: i-spy (15239) 

Same with strawberry jam. It could be anything.

Replied: 9th Apr 2017 at 20:15

Posted by: priscus (inactive)

Used to buy a really nice Strawberry Jam, it was from Poland, and brand name on label was Oberon. Not seen for a couple of decades now though.

Aldi do an own label 'Camarosa Strawberry Conserve' which is fair.

55g of fruit per 100g
61g of sugar per 100g.

I guess the difference is accounted for by evaporation during processing.

Never had a fresh Camarosa strawberry, they are day neutral, but suited to rather warmer climes than UK

Replied: 9th Apr 2017 at 21:31

Posted by: priscus (inactive)

Replied: 9th Apr 2017 at 21:35

Posted by: momac (12409) 

My favourite fruit are strawberries..but for some reason I can't stand
strawberry jam..a useless piece of knowledge I know.

Replied: 9th Apr 2017 at 21:37

Posted by: kathpressey (5590) 

Strawberries need to be eaten at room temperature and not straight from the fridge. I wait and get mine from a house that has a stall by their front gate. These are real strawberries, red and full of flavour. The foreign ones might be bigger but they're just white inside and tasteless.

Replied: 11th Apr 2017 at 08:42

Posted by: priscus (inactive)

Got some Elsanta variety today.

These are not day-neutrals, but one of our traditional June-bearing varieties. These were Sussex-grown. I guess under glass, though label did not say, though we are only a couple of weeks from May, when I start to get a few of my own ripening, and the season is said to differ by two weeks between North, and South.

These were good, sufficiently ripened, sweet and maintaining their flavour after refrigeration.

Will buy more next time I shop.

Replied: 14th Apr 2017 at 15:52

Posted by: priscus (inactive)

My first post-Easter shopping today:

Bah humbug! NO ELSANTA on the shelves.

Bought punnet of Kent-grown variety called FLEURETTE!

Poor flavour.
Another offering advantage to the grower rather than consumer.

Another variety I will not be buying again!

Replied: 19th Apr 2017 at 13:39

Posted by: broady (inactive)

I only have strawberries in a Gin and Tonic along with lemon rind and Juniper berries. Delightful.

Replied: 20th Apr 2017 at 11:40

Posted by: priscus (inactive)

When I was in Germany, long time ago, now, covering strawberries with ground black pepper and strong alcohol, was a not uncommon way to consume them.

Prefer Eton Mess myself, but not permitted cream these days. (Failing kidneys cannot cope with the calcium)

Replied: 21st Apr 2017 at 13:48

 

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