[willnbirdie]

Hi

Have been given 6 strawberry plants they are growing well and each of them has strawberries on them.  Apparently my Grandad used to grow strawberries (he's been gone for some 25 years so not here to ask) but apparently once fruit had set and were about resting on the ground he used to pop the cluster of strawberries in a glass jar to proctect them from slugs and to help them ripen?  Ours are in a planter just on soil no plastic at this stage.  Thnking of creating a proper strawberry bed next year.

Has anyone heard of this or has it been made up?  If it's true is it any good - my mum says that her dad's strawberries were always very good.

What do you all think?

willnbirdie

[gobs]

Yep, some folks do that.

[Oliveview]

We had our first strawberry yesterday- it was lovely-  it was big so we had half each   We have just 1 plant but it has sent out runners.  Next year we might get 4 strawberries to eat
Pamela

[willnbirdie]

Cheers gobs - that's what we'll do then, saves the need for netting from birds too I guess - hopefully our first ones will be ready soon - quite green at the mo - how long do they normally take to turn red?

cheers

willnbirdie

[londongardener]

Yep, some folks do that.

I have never heard of it.  But fruits when they ripen produce ethene (also known as ethylene) which produces more ripening.  If there is a glass jar over them I guess this would increase the concentration of ethene and so make them ripen quicker.

It is like bananas ripen quicker if you leave them in a plastic bag.