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Original poster

To stop eating strawberries

81 replies

MissPop · 14/07/2023 13:39

I used to love eating a whole juicy punnet of strawberries all to myself.

These days they just taste so bland and they’re supposed to be in season. Even the really expensive ones taste crap.

So, no more strawberries for me. They’re not cheap either.

Am I alone in this?

OP posts:
lostinfusion · 14/07/2023 14:17

they are great from a pick your own but others are just very tasteless

Ridemeginger · 14/07/2023 14:18

I've noticed they've been particularly bitter and watery this year, no matter where you buy them from.

Bananas1350 · 14/07/2023 14:18

I grow my own. Much nicer.

AdoraBell · 14/07/2023 14:19

I only buy them if they smell good.

skyfalldown · 14/07/2023 14:20

You need Scottish ones!

MumblesParty · 14/07/2023 14:22

Not the point of the thread OP, but has anyone who grows strawberries had an awful year this year? I have about 20 plants and usually by this time of year I’m eating buckets of them every day. This year I’ve had about 30 strawberries in total and now they’re done! I watered them all through the heatwave.

DustyLee123 · 14/07/2023 14:22

The best ones I’ve found are from Spar, when they’ve got crates of them stacked up. Some of them were from Belgium.

RaraRachael · 14/07/2023 14:22

We have a local grower whose strawberries were very juicy and tasty - so much better than supermarket ones. However this year they're £3.60 for a box and have no taste. So no more strawberries for me!

drpet49 · 14/07/2023 14:23

HavfrueDenizKisi · 14/07/2023 13:50

To be fair I think peak strawberry season is May and June so I usually tend to stick to strawberries then. But agreed as local as possible, as fresh as possible, eat as soon as you've bought them and eat them at room temperature.

Certainly not May!

DustyLee123 · 14/07/2023 14:24

The ones I’ve grown have been an odd shape, like a bum on one side !

MakingTheMostOfThings · 14/07/2023 14:25

M&S Red Diamond strawberries are lush
Make sure you check through the boxes though - the strawberries that are bigger are better
Yes they cost a little bit more than, say, strawberries from Asda but they are worth it

haggisaggis · 14/07/2023 14:25

I live in Angus too and confirm they are the best strawberries! My local farm still producing.

FadedRed · 14/07/2023 14:26

MumblesParty · 14/07/2023 14:22

Not the point of the thread OP, but has anyone who grows strawberries had an awful year this year? I have about 20 plants and usually by this time of year I’m eating buckets of them every day. This year I’ve had about 30 strawberries in total and now they’re done! I watered them all through the heatwave.

Same here- growing our own plants haves been absolutely hopeless this year, very disappointing.

poppym12 · 14/07/2023 14:27

I usually give strawberries a miss as they seem tasteless. I bought a punnet from a local farm a couple of weeks ago and they were ok but I don't think I'll bother again as they cost £5.

TheSpottedZebra · 14/07/2023 14:28

MumblesParty · 14/07/2023 14:22

Not the point of the thread OP, but has anyone who grows strawberries had an awful year this year? I have about 20 plants and usually by this time of year I’m eating buckets of them every day. This year I’ve had about 30 strawberries in total and now they’re done! I watered them all through the heatwave.

Unfortunately yes. Awful year. All my allotment buddies are the same.
It's the weather. Even pick your owns have struggled.

Last year I was practically knee-deep in strawberries!

ValerieDoonican · 14/07/2023 14:33

CountFoscoHasMiceInHisPocket · 14/07/2023 14:00

I eat strawberries non stop through the summer. I always give the punnet a sniff first. and if they don't have a strong scent don't bother. M&S ones are always good but I had some lovely Scottish strawberries from Morrison's the other day.

Yep. I always give the punnets a sniff before a buy any, and choose the strawberriest smelling ones. If there's no smell, there's no point

OrwellianTimes · 14/07/2023 14:34

Grow your own, buy local and in season. The season is over now already.

OrwellianTimes · 14/07/2023 14:34

MumblesParty · 14/07/2023 14:22

Not the point of the thread OP, but has anyone who grows strawberries had an awful year this year? I have about 20 plants and usually by this time of year I’m eating buckets of them every day. This year I’ve had about 30 strawberries in total and now they’re done! I watered them all through the heatwave.

Mine did really really well this year! First time ever.

HarlanPepper · 14/07/2023 14:36

TherebytheGraceofGodgoI · 14/07/2023 13:48

Always buy local and eat at room temperature.
I always check the supplier on the front of the packs in the supermarket and buy Hereford before any others.

I'm from Herefordshire, recently we visited family there for a week and we ate bowls of strawberries literally every day, it was amazing. They're as delicious as ever but obviously we could get them straight from the farm, picked that day.

ActDottie · 14/07/2023 14:36

I only buy British strawberries. The ones from abroad I find tend to be larger and more watery than tasty. The smaller the strawberry the better I find, I absolutely love wild strawberries so sweeeet!

dorisdoor · 14/07/2023 14:37

Another vote for M&S red diamond ones.

GnomeDePlume · 14/07/2023 14:39

Buy plants. Few varieties grow from seed, mainly alpine varieties.

We grow them on our allotment. This year hasn't been great but we still got plenty.

Blackberries coming through soon - don't buy these. Always amazed at people buying blackberries they could have picked for free round the edge of the supermarket carpark!

EmmaChizzett · 14/07/2023 14:40

Angus and Fife strawberries are as gorgeous as ever.

We're lucky to be surrounded by berry growers.

RatatouilleAndFeta · 14/07/2023 14:57

M&S have tasty ones! 🍓

SirenSays · 14/07/2023 14:58

They're stupidly easy to grow but definitely go for plants not seeds. I water mine if it's very hot (and I remember) other than that i just leave them to do their own thing and always get loads every summer.