All Things Strawberries & Why They’re a Summer Favorite
Refreshingly sweet and tart, strawberries are delicious all year round. But there’s something special about strawberries in the summer. Juicy, sun-ripened, homegrown red berries picked right from the plant when they’re still warm… Nothing tastes more like summer! It’s no wonder they’re a summer favorite around here. Strawberries grow very well in gardens here in the Pacific Northwest— The gorgeous pink and white flowers are present throughout the spring and end up as ripe fruit by mid-summer. You can enjoy your own homegrown strawberries or those from local farmers as there is an abundance available every year.
Growing Strawberries
Strawberries are easy to grow and tasty to enjoy. In fact, wild varieties of strawberries are sometimes considered weeds: The prolific plant grows “runners” and additional strawberries out from the mother plant. This means wild strawberries grow far and haphazardly— You may find yourself trimming your own strawberry plants back at home.
Scarlet Belle strawberry plants at Tacoma Boys grow strong and produce pretty pink flowers that become the berries. The edible hanging basket berries are both aesthetically pleasing and deliciously fruitful. Scarlet Belle’s are known for their dual beauty and ease of care. They also go dormant in winter and come back when spring returns. When growing strawberries at home, there are just a few things to keep in mind:
Watch For Birds, Bunnies, and Other Critters
Sometimes right when the strawberries are ripe and ready, other animals will get to them first! Harvest early and often and consider something like bird netting.
Give the Plants Room to Grow
Remember, strawberry plants grow like weeds! You’ll need room for the leaves and flowers of the plant as well as its offspring. For those Scarlet Belle strawberries, avoid overcrowding the container. That means clipping off the runners and baby plants, too, which may instead allow for more nutrients to the fruit of the plant.
Compost and Fertilizer Can Be Beneficial
If you’re comfortable with using such additions, compost or fertilizer can help your strawberry plants grow even more fruit. Check out this guide for information on fertilizing strawberries.
Choose an Appropriate Spot for the Plants
Strawberries like a good amount of sun, so make sure they’re not directly under a porch or somewhere else overly shady. Put the plant somewhere you can see it often to enjoy its beauty!
Local Summer Fruit at Tacoma Boys
Local summer fruit like strawberries are tasty to eat all season long. Fresh fruit is such a good healthy snack and tasty to enjoy on its own. But there are plenty of different dishes and things to make with strawberries. Desserts are a sweet and simple go-to. For a savory summer fruit recipe, salads are delicious and fun to make. Try this Strawberry Peach Spinach Salad with Montchevre Goat Cheese and Annie’s Organic Dijon Mustard to highlight the local summer fruit. Whipped ricotta toast is another popular choice for savory strawberries: Try toasted Essential Baking Company Organic Sliced Fremont Sour White with whipped Organic Valley Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese and balsamic-marinated strawberries.
Aside from strawberries, other summer fruit in Washington includes:
- Berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
- Peaches and nectarines.
- Bing and rainier cherries.
- Cantaloupe, honey dew melon, and watermelon.
- Rhubarb: Tacoma Boy’s recipe for Apple Rhubarb Crisp is seasonal and scrumptious.
Local Produce
Summer fruits like strawberries are just a fraction of the local produce available in the summer. The Pacific Northwest is rich with vegetables and herbs throughout the year, but summer is a great time for local produce. The ample soil, shining sun, and sprinkle of rain yields an abundance of vegetables. Summer season for produce means copious amounts of tomatoes, zucchini, different lettuces, and more. And bonus: Enjoying this produce from local farmers and markets means you’re shopping seasonally and locally.
In addition to summer fruit, local produce is available at Tacoma Boys, including:
- Zucchini and summer squash
- Several varieties of tomatoes
- Peppers
- Beets
- Radishes
- Peas and beans
- Cabbage
And much more! Buying seasonal, local produce like strawberries is good for you, your community, and the environment. Local produce is in season, fresh, and supports your neighbors: Read more about shopping local and seasonal here. Delicious, sweet fruit and hearty vegetables are available year-round and especially in the summer. Summer is also a good time to head to u-pick farms for summer fruit like berries! Harvesting your own food is fun, rewarding, and connects you closer to the source of common sustenance.
Shop for Strawberries at Tacoma Boys
Tacoma Boys stays stocked with a selection of strawberries and summer fruit— local and otherwise. That includes those stunning Scarlet Belle strawberry plants so you can get started on growing your own! Stop by to check them out or grab the necessities for your meals all summer long. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!
