The strawberry patch is rustling with excitement as Wimbledon starts in less than a week’s time. For many, Wimbledon really does mark the beginning of the Great British summer – wet or dry – and of course is THE place for strawberries and cream. Although our strawberries aren’t destined for Wimbledon, plenty of them will be eaten during the famous lawn tennis fortnight.
Selected for flavour and planted in stages to ensure the crop lasts from May – September, we grow three varieties of strawberry on Millets Farm for the PYO – El Santa, Evie 3 and Premier. El Santa is a popular variety stocked by supermarkets, however, when compared with its PYO counterpart the difference is simply hard to ignore. The PYO berry is far superior in flavour and texture as it has not suffered any of the dehydration or loss of vital fruit sugars that takes place between picking and reaching the supermarket shelf – in some instances 3 days.
So, having picked some strawberries and eaten a few on the way home – who could resist? – what fate awaits the remaining stash of sweet berries? Well, plenty of people make jam of course, as well as coulis, sorbets and ice creams that can be frozen and enjoyed through the summer and beyond. Added to museli or cereal makes a scrumptious change to the hum-drum of breakfast…..whizzed up with milk, ice cream and yoghurt for kids milkshakes is a cooling and healthier mid morning or afternoon snack. Its hard to beat Eton mess and summer pudding for dessert and drinks wise, a fresh strawberry daiquiri is divine as well as a handful of strawbs in a jug full of Pimms – there’ll be plenty of that enjoyed during Wimbledon, I bet!
For those who are a little more adventurous in the kitchen and like to try something new, we have partnered with award winning chef, Mark Chandler of the White Hart in Fyfield, to create a series of recipe cards that will be available from the farm shop and downloadable from our Millets Farm Centre website. The Gratin of Summer Berries with Zesty Lemon Cake is available now in time for the PYO blackcurrants and redcurrants, which will be ready to pick in July.
Just like Wimbledon, strawberries are affected by the weather – too cool and they get colds, too hot and they spoil in an instant. This week’s weather forecast predicts a mix of sunny intervals and full sunshine. So fingers crossed for cooler nights – 10 /12 degrees please – as this will create the optimum growing conditions for our strawberries.
Looks like I’ll be scoffing lots of them this week, hope you do too!
Hi, Are you strawberries that are ready to be picked grown in the grown or head height which you did a few years ago? I hope head height as this enables disabled people like myself to still enjoying picking them as we can not bend down.
Hi Lorraine
Thanks for your comment.
Yes the majority of our strawberries are grown on table tops which makes them a lot easier to pick!
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