[heygrow]

My stawberries are producing quite well, even if I do have to share them with the birds that find a way under the netting!

However I have found that once picked they do not keep fresh for more than 1 day, even if kept in the fridge, unlike shop bought ones that seem to keep longer. What is the difference between mine and commercial ones and how can I keep them fresh for longer?

[PAULW]

I should think the resaon is that the commercial growers pick them before they are ripe so they ripen in the shops whereas you are more likely to pick them at their best therefore just on the turn, have you tried putting them in a zip lock bag and gently sqeezing out as much air as possible without sqashing them salad treated like this will last over a week so may work for strawbs.

[Trillium]

As said, they're picked before they're ripe. Most of what I see on store shelves is only just starting to ripen.

[heygrow]

Thanks, but I'm sure the shop ones even once they are ripe stay around a bit longer. I've had some that in 1 day have gone mouldy. Should I be cleaning them immediately?

I am starting to pick before they fully ripen to stop the birds nicking them all! If I wait for them to ripen fully, I miss out and the birds have a nice treat!!

[JayG]

It's possibly stating the obvious but the riper they are the nearer they are to succumbing to rot - I suppose you have to make your own call as to keeping qualities versus optimum flavour (TBH I don't spend much time wondering about how long I can store them though!  )

Make sure you only refrigerate sound fruits - any bruising or other damage will quickly lead to fungal attack which will affect the undamaged fruit too.

Netting is pretty well essential where I am - it doesn't have to be very fancy to keep the birds off.

[GrannieAnnie]

It's definitely the way they are treated in the commercial world.  Up until this year there was a PYO strawberry field at the end of our road.  We would go and pick 7-14lbs of strawberries, gorge for 2 days then jam the rest as they were already turning.

Like the others have said, once picked nice and ripe, they will start to turn straight away.  Especially if you wash them.  Once water hits them, the degeneration process starts quicker!

[allotmentann]

I think it is 'odd' how supermarket strawberries will last for so long! Surely they must do something other than just pick them under ripe for this to happen? I try to leave them on the plant until I know that I can use them. Also they last longer if you make sure to leave a little stalk on rather than pull them off completely. To be honest I like the fact that they don't keep - it feels normal!

[LilacSandy]

I am not sure if they can still do this but, fruit used to subjected to a very low dose of radiation to kill the mold spores.

[Trillium]

It could be that, lilacsandy, or perhaps they're growing varieties that are specifically slow to ripen, even if they look ripe. I've bitten into a few that were red outside but white inside. Yuk! It's kind of like commercial tomatoes that look red but taste very unripe because they need to stay that way for shipping.

[gowing238]

I am not sure if they can still do this but, fruit used to subjected to a very low dose of radiation to kill the mold spores.

This still happens. It delays the process of decay. They get NUKED basically!!!

[heygrow]

They get NUKED basically!!!

Yes I thought there might be something like this they do.

So if you live near a nuclear power station you might have longer lasting strawberries (that also glow in the dark).

[Trillium]

At least you'd get value for money 

[Charl89]

i tend to pick mine just as they are turning ripe so they last longer, when i get them home i top them and cut any rotten bits (if any) then wash them and put them in a bowl in the fridge. My last lot i had which i picked i think was thursday we didnt finish them until monday and they were still ok. I dunno if that will help.