Our unseasonal heatwave at the end of september prompted my strawberry patch to go banana’s for a second time this year.  A few ripened and I snuck them all to myself seeing as the kids got virtually all of the first crop earlier this year.  But I fear there will not be enough light or warmth now to ripen the rest, I just wondered if anyone knew of anything I could do with them rather than let them waste?

Muuch love X

If you can give them any protection/cloche cover they may ripen still - maybe have something reflective underneath them to capture as much sunlight/heat as possible. Have known people do this with tin foil and old cd’s and cover the plants with makeshift cloches.

Alternatively if you want to just pick them - green berries have pectin in them so they could be used in a preserve - jam, jelly, syrups or elixirs.

They won’t ripen properly if you pick them green, they may colour up a little in sunlight on a windowsill but the flavour won’t ripen in strawberries - the flavour is fixed at the time of picking.

If you can get them to redden up a bit but they are still a bit tart; grilling them with a touch of orange juice and cinnamon is gorgeous.

Jx

Joxy that sounds amazing!

Thanks all, I had wonered about the pectin thang so sure I will be able to use them somehow.

Much love X