What does a strawberry look like to pick

strawberries can usually be picked when the fruit has completely turned red and there is no white area around the stem. Mature strawberries are characterized by uniform and bright colors, full and elastic flesh, and a rich fruity aroma. At this time, sugar and flavor substances are fully accumulated. When strawberries mature, their skin presents a variety specific red or deep red color, with obvious grain protrusions on the surface. Gently touching the fruit can easily separate it from the stem. There is no green residue at the connection between the bottom of the fruit and the stem, and the texture of the flesh is soft but not excessively soft. Different varieties have slight differences in mature color, for example, Zhangji strawberry is dark red when ripe, while white strawberry varieties appear milky white or light pink. Observing the degree of fruit enlargement and glossiness is also a criterion for judgment. Fully ripe strawberries have a volume close to the normal size of the variety and a waxy luster on the skin. Strawberries harvested too early have white shoulders, hard and sour flesh, and are difficult to sweeten through storage in the later stages. The skin of overripe strawberries darkens and becomes soft, making them prone to mechanical damage or mold growth. Continuous rainy weather may cause delayed coloring of strawberries, and the observation period needs to be extended. Strawberries grown in greenhouses are relatively easy to determine maturity due to stable lighting conditions, while those grown outdoors need to consider the impact of temperature differences between day and night on maturity speed.

When picking, it is recommended to gently twist the top of the fruit stem with your thumb and index finger, and keep some of the stem to extend the storage time. Strawberries harvested before noon after the morning dew dries have the best flavor, and the fruit is prone to softening during high temperature periods. After picking, avoid stacking and store in a cool and ventilated place. Refrigerate within two hours to maximize nutrient retention. Strawberries are fruits with weak ripening effects, and their sweetness hardly increases after harvesting, so accurately grasping their maturity is crucial.