Harvest strawberry when the berry is fully red. Fruit picked pale will change color, but it will not sweeten. Keep the green cap on the fruit.
Pick when the berry is fully red — it will not sweeten off the plant
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Ready | Uniform red, with no green or white on the shoulders | Picking a white-tipped berry and waiting for it to sweeten indoors |
| Wait | Leave it on the plant a day or two after it first turns fully red | Picking at first blush of color |
| How | Pinch the stem about a quarter inch above the cap | Pulling the fruit off the crown |
| Store | Refrigerate unwashed berries the same day | Washing the crop before it goes in the fridge |
Strawberries do not ripen after you pick them. A pale berry may turn redder in the bowl, but it stays tart. [1] [2] Allstar is a June jam crop: one short pick window of about three weeks. Albion fruits in flushes through the season while temperatures stay moderate. Match the kind on Types of Strawberry if the tag only says everbearing.
Do strawberries ripen after picking?
No. They may color a little, but they will not sweeten. Leave fruit on the plant until it is fully red.
How to harvest strawberries
Pick cool fruit in the morning. Pinch the stem. Leave the cap on. Keep the berries dry until you eat them.
- Pick when the whole berry is red, including the shoulders. Wait a day or two after it first turns fully red if you can. Morning fruit is cooler and keeps longer. [3]
- Pinch or snip the stem about a quarter inch above the green cap. Do not yank the fruit; that bruises the berry and can tear the crown.
- In warm weather, pick about every other day. In cool weather, every three or four days is enough. Leave any berry that still shows white.
- Carry fruit in a shallow container. Do not pile a deep bucket that crushes the bottom layer.
- Refrigerate the same day. Do not wash until you eat. Moisture in the fridge is what turns berries to mush. [4]
How often should I pick strawberries?
About every other day in heat, every three or four days when it is cool. A June crop runs about three weeks.
If berries mold in a day, you washed them too soon or left pale fruit in a closed, wet box.
FAQ
Can I freeze extra berries?
Yes. Freeze them the day you pick. Wash, cap, and freeze on a tray, then bag. Do not leave a wet bowl in the fridge for a week and hope it keeps.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Iowa State University Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/harvesting-and-storing-small-fruit - [2] University of Maryland Extension -
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-strawberries-home-garden - [3] Iowa State University Extension -
https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2021/06/08/containing-strawberry-freshness/ - [4] University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources -
https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2020-09/335673.pdf
This note is part of Fragaria Guides.
More harvest timing notes by plant live in Harvesting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors