A Beautiful California-Grown Strawberry Eton Mess Recipe - California Grown (2024)

FAQs

Are strawberries grown year round in California? ›

Throughout the year strawberries are being harvested in California. Depending on the weather, peak strawberry season begins in early spring and runs all the way through fall.

It's best to use at least 2 tablespoons sugar per cup of berries and increase the amount based on the tartness of the berries. Some of mine were pretty tart and I wanted them to be nice and sweet. You'll also need covered place to store them in the fridge - I always use a glass bowl and plastic wrap.

If your strawberries aren't sweet, look at your current soil conditions. Strawberries perform best in well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic soils. In fact, these plants tend to yield more and are sweeter when grown in compost-enriched, sandy soil.

🍓 Exceptional Flavor and Sweetness

California Strawberries are a taste bud's best friend, thanks to the state's sunny days and cool nights. This perfect weather combo churns out berries that are aromatically sweet and packed with flavor.

During peak season, strawberries are harvested in Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Maria, Oxnard and Orange County. During the cooler months, strawberries continue to be harvested in Santa Maria and Oxnard, making California strawberries available year-round.

The strawberry capital of the world is said to be Watsonville, California, and thanks to a sweet rental agreement, Santa Cruz County officials have been inhabiting their own little patch of office space in the city. Watsonville is an agricultural hub of 52,000 residents founded in 1868 just south of the Bay Area.

How Long To Macerate Strawberries. Let the berries stand for at least 30 minutes or up to two hours at room temperature. The longer they sit, the juicer and softer they will become.

Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar per 1 lb. strawberries, stir to combine in a large bowl, then cover and refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes.

How far ahead can you macerate strawberries? You can begin macerating fruit up to 48 hours before you will be using it. Keep it stored in the refrigerator. But I find the best results are from 30 minutes before up to 24 hours.

Delicious Fruits

Adding Epsom salt to your fruits and vegetables soil will mean sweeter fruit and delicious vegetables. The Epsom salt will help to boost the chlorophyll levels in your fruit and nut trees. The more chlorophyl means more energy, and more energy means sweeter fruit.

What is the best fertilizer for strawberries? ›

The best fertilizer for strawberries is usually a 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 balanced fertilizer. If you keep an organic garden, choose from all-natural fertilizers, including blood meal, kelp meal, soybean meal, and alfalfa meal.

Yes, a dog can eat strawberries. If you're looking for a fun and safe treat to help expand your dog's palate, strawberries are an excellent choice. Like many other fruits and berries, strawberries are a healthy snack choice for dogs. Other options include apples, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries and more.

#1 California

This state is the powerhouse of strawberry production. The climate is ideal for growing large, juicy berries throughout most of the year. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, California is responsible for roughly 90% of all strawberries grown in the United States each year.

Albion strawberries have a darker color, both internally and externally, and a consistently sweeter flavor than most strawberries. The plant is known for its large, symmetrical fruit, which is mostly conical and very firm. The high sugar content makes it ideal for use in desserts, as well as eating out of hand.

In southern California, Winter plantings made from late October through December use current season's plants shortly after they are harvested from high-elevation nurseries. Because winters are mild, plants begin to grow immediately and fruit quite soon after planting.

When it comes to the strawberry season in northern California, the prime time for harvesting those juicy berries lies between April and July, with the peak of the season falling in May and June.

While you can shop for these berries at grocery stores all year long, strawberries are at their best when they're in-season.

Strawberries are great year round fruits to grow, especially inside as you can eat the fruit even during the colder months. The best way to grow strawberries is to make sure that they receive at least 6 hours of sunlight directly or if growing with grow lights, at least 12 hours.