Advice for the Excited

One of the HUGE benefits to growing your own food is that you get to pluck it from the vine, tree or bush at it's peak...it's perfect ripeness.  This means taking a garden tour every day (or close to it) to ensure you're timing is right, but it also requires something else that can be much more difficult.

PATIENCE.

Be patient, people!  Patience is of the utmost importance particularly with strawberries and tomatoes.  While it's tempting to pick the *almost* ripe fruits as well and let them ripen up on the counter or sill, why not let them finish out their ripening on the vine?  It's a luxury you might not have if you're picking your strawberries at a pick-your-own place, but if you have them at home, take your time.  Pick slightly more often so that the berries (and later, tomatoes) you eat are beautifully ripe.

One exception is, of course, if something is obviously after what you're picking.  I'll bring in something that is almost ripe if it's obvious something is getting into it (ants, slugs, etc).  This way I'll save a portion of the fruit instead of leaving it out in the garden to attract more pests.

So.  The word of the day...PATIENCE.  It can be difficult to muster when you've been waiting all year and are chomping at the bit, but it's worth it:-).

{Now, while it's hard to imagine after that little pep talk, there are things you should pick sooner rather than later- lettuce, spinach, chard, kale...these are more tender and less likely to be bothered by pests when their young.  So, keep that in the back of your mind, too.}

And what, pray tell, should you do with those luscious, perfectly ripe strawberries (after eating your fill of them straight from the garden)?  Let me offer a few suggestions...

Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles and Smoothies

Strawberry Brunch Souffle

Spinach Strawberry Salad
Mrs. Davey Funk Cake and Tishy Fuloo

Strawberry Bars

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Strawberry Pie

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