Red strawberries ripen on plants in a farm in Georgia

Strawberry season is upon southeast Iowa. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are offering some advice on harvesting the homegrown hardy red fruit. Berries should be picked with the caps and stems attached to retain firmness and quality. It’s best to pinch off the stem about a quarter or an inch above the cap. In warm weather, strawberries should be picked about every other day and in cool weather it should be done every three to four days. Strawberries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five to seven days. If your strawberries aren’t as sweet as normal it is likely due to the weather. For strawberries warm, sunny weather produces the most flavorful fruit as they produce smaller quantities of sugars when the weather is cool and cloudy in May and June.