Stawberries

The best strawberries you’ll ever taste will come from a garden, because fully ripened strawberries have a rich, aromatic flavor unmatched by their supermarket counterparts. Savoring the melt-in-your-mouth juiciness of freshly picked strawberries is but one reason to grow your own. As the first fruits to ripen in spring, strawberries are nutritious assets to any garden.

Strawberry Nutrition Facts

Planting Strawberries

Strawberries need at least 8 hours of full sun each day, and they prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. It is best to space seeds 18 inches apart. (Check the tag for exact details on spacing.) Be sure to set the plants so that their roots are well covered with soil but the central growing bud, or crown, is exposed to light and fresh air. Water them well and use mulch. Berries ripen ~30 days after blossoms are fertilized.

Harvesting and Storage

Pick strawberries in the morning, when the fruits are cool, and immediately put them in the refrigerator without rinsing. Wait until just before you eat or cook them to rinse the berries thoroughly with cool water. Extra strawberries can be frozen, dried, or made into jam or preserves. For more storage tips: http://www.wikihow.com/Store-Strawberries

Strawberry-Avocado Salsa

Ingredients: -1 cup finely chopped strawberries -1/4 cup finely chopped peeled avocado -2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion -2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro -1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind -2 tablespoons fresh lime juice -2 teaspoons finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper -1/4 teaspoon sugar Directions: Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; toss gently. Serve immediately.