Garden Strawberries

After coming to Germany, Strawberry picking was something new for me. These fruits in India were so costly during my childhood, I almost thought it came from space. LOL! :) Now I know the reason why they can't be cultivated any where in the World.

They are an excellent source of Vitamin C, are juicy & have wonderful color.

Some Trivia I found from Wiki: - Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide. Like other species of Fragaria (strawberries), it belongs to the family Rosaceae. Technically, it is not a fruit but a false fruit, meaning the fleshy part is derived not from the plant's ovaries (achenes) but from the peg at the bottom of the bowl-shaped hypanthium that holds the ovaries.

Cultivation: -

I usually start to plant the nursery bought plants during mid Spring. They need at least 6 hours of sunlight, direct sunlight is ideal. Watering the plants is a must. Care should be however taken to avoid stagnant water & drought.

Picking: -

I leave them to ripen fully in the plant itself, before picking them. Care should be taken not to squeeze the fruit before pulling them from the plant. Use a pair or scissors or a sharp knife.

Photos of the previous years' Harvest: -

This year's cultivation: -

Strawberry flower & unripe fruit.