When forest and meadow strawberries ripen in different regions - a unique taste!

Strawberries with fresh milk - one has only to remember this taste, and nostalgia for a carefree childhood immediately comes. Wild strawberries are not only amazing in taste, but also incredible benefits. That is why many people go to distant forests at the height of summer in search of red berries. Let's figure out when strawberries ripen in different regions, where to look for them and how to pick them correctly.

Ripening terms

Strawberries are widely distributed throughout Russia and in the neighboring countries. The approximate ripening dates for the berries are in mid-summer:

1. In the southern regions, the harvest begins to appear in the month of June, sometimes in the last days of May.
2. The climate of the Moscow region is very suitable for strawberries. The first berries in the Moscow region ripen by mid-June, abundant fruiting - throughout July.
3. In Bashkiria, the strawberry season also opens in June.
4. The northern forests of the Urals, Siberia and the Far East provide people with strawberries in early August, when in other regions the berries have already departed.

The exact timing of the appearance of strawberries depends on the variety, and also varies from year to year due to weather conditions. If the summer is wet, then the berry ripens watery and very soft, and if the bushes lacked moisture, then they give dry and small fruits. The most delicious and healthy harvest is obtained with the climatic "golden mean".

Homemade strawberries
Garden berries ripen 1-2 weeks earlier than wild berries. At the same time, meadow strawberries are poured. But the surest sign to go to the forest for berries is the merchants in the markets and along the highways.

The fruiting of this plant does not last long:

• meadow strawberries - 3 weeks,
• forest - over a month.

Ripening occurs in stages, on one bush you can find both ripe and green (white) berries.

Don't forget that not only do you like fragrant fruits, insects and birds feed on them. Do not postpone a visit to the forest, especially if the summer is hot.

Where to find wild strawberries

Strawberries are a herbaceous perennial; wild and cultivated forms are found. The bush reaches 20 cm in height, the berries are very small - 10-12 g each.

Where are strawberries better - in the forest or in the field?

The first scattering of strawberries appears in the fields, where there is a lot of sun. But the largest berries are born in forests, usually pine and birch, with a moderate herbaceous cover and medium thickening. There are bushes along roads, in clearings, on the edges.

The environmental conditions in which strawberries ripen affects its composition and taste - all wild berry lovers know this. If the strawberry grows away from roads, in a clean forest, then its taste can be much superior to the garden one.

Where to look in the forest?

When looking for strawberries in the forest, be guided by the lighted lawns, small gaps among the trees. The likelihood of growing strawberries in such places is higher - the plant is photophilous. The most delicious fruits are where there is good diffused light and sufficient soil moisture.

Advice
The early wild strawberries are slightly bitter, while the later ones are already filled with sweetness.

Where can I find strawberries in the field?

In the fields, strawberry bushes are located in thickets of weeds. They shade the plant, protecting it from direct sunlight. Choose wild fields that are not cultivated for agricultural purposes.

How to pick berries in the forest and in the field: useful tips

Rules for harvesting strawberry harvest in the fields and in the forest:

1. Choose a dry day to avoid rain and dew. Go to the forest early in the morning or in the evening to avoid carrying a brittle harvest in the sun. From this he quickly deteriorates and lets out juice.
2. If you are returning from the forest with a harvest on a hot day, then cover the container with paper.
3. When picking wild strawberries, distribute them in portions into jars or plates, do not pour from one container to another. The berry crumples easily, it loses useful juice.
4. The optimal container is wide, with low walls. The thinner the layer of berries, the less likely they are crumpled under their own weight. Choose birch bark packaging so that the fruits are ventilated and not sour while you carry them home. Plastic bags are definitely not suitable.
5. 1 kg of strawberries fits in a 2.5 liter container.
6. Collecting strawberries is a painstaking task, you should be patient. From the height of human growth, the berries are not always noticeable, you have to bend over or crawl on your knees. Choose clothes that you don't mind getting stained with grass or berry juice.
7. Give preference to manual assembly. Various adaptations harm bushes and reduce yields for several years.
8. Try to capture as little debris as possible: leaves, insects. So the berry does not have to be washed at home for a long time, crushing.
9. Do not uproot strawberry bushes! It is a perennial plant. A careful attitude is the key to a new harvest for the next year.
10. Do not pick green strawberries, after they are removed from the bush, they will not ripen.
11. It is worth taking a map, a compass and a communication device with you to the forest.

When the crop is harvested, try to process it quickly or eat it fresh. It is better not to wash the berries if the forest or field was clean and located away from roads. If washing is necessary, do it very quickly and in cool water.

And most importantly - do not leave your bags in the sun!

Folk signs about strawberries
Berries harvested for the growing moon are the most useful, they are eaten after being removed from the bush. And the best time for conservation is the waning moon, so the benefits in berries are preserved for a long time.

What to collect at the same time with strawberries

Collect not only the berries, but also the green parts of the plant. Strawberry leaf is useful in decoctions and infusions, it is rich in vitamin C. Cut off the green parts with scissors, distribute in an even layer under a canopy and dry. When peeling the fruit, do not throw away the sepals, they are also vitamin raw materials. Flowering bushes and roots collected during flowering are also useful.

Going to the forest for strawberries, you can also come across fruit-bearing bushes of raspberries, currants, blueberries, and irgi. But do not forget about safety measures, do not pick and do not eat fruits unfamiliar to you, they can be toxic.

How to eat strawberries

The most useful berries are ripe, freshly picked from the bush. They are eaten with milk, cream, yogurt, ground with sugar, mixed with other berries.

Compotes and fruit drinks with berries will perfectly refresh the body in the summer heat. Strawberries quench thirst very well.

Meadow or wild strawberry jam can be cooked directly with the leaves. They only have a positive effect on the taste, adding astringency. If you are too lazy to peel or are afraid to break the integrity of the berries, cook them with sepals.

Advice
Strawberries are a popular ingredient in home cosmetics. The berry pulp is used to make face masks that nourish the skin and remove age spots.

Berries on twigs are dried to add to vitamin tea in winter.

The value of wild strawberries

This berry is known for its medicinal chemical composition. The dugout is rich in calcium, iron, vitamin C, folic acid, organic acids, tannins, pectins and flavonoids. It is a low-calorie berry with anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antioxidant properties.

Berries are useful for vitamin deficiency, to maintain immunity.Strawberries are recommended for diseases of the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, it has a positive effect on the digestive function.

Strawberries remove heavy metals and harmful salts from the body. The berry is especially effective in combination with fermented milk products.

Strawberry is a summer berry with the richest vitamin composition; leaves, sepals and roots are also appreciated. Going into the forest, stock up on containers and patience - picking strawberries will take a lot of time, but the result will pay off.