Strawberries are not sweet - Ask Extension
Our strawberries, regardless of variety, are not sweet. Neither are our blueberries. Is there a nutrient deficiency that can cause this? The plants ar...
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Strawberries are not sweet #446251
Asked April 04, 2018, 4:09 PM EDT
Our strawberries, regardless of variety, are not sweet. Neither are our blueberries. Is there a nutrient deficiency that can cause this? The plants are beautiful and produce heavily but they are really tart. Years ago I had a similar problem with canteloups and watermelons till I read an article by the U of Me that explained that a magnesium deficiency could cause the problem. I watered them with some Epsom salts and was rewarded with the sweetest, most delicious canteloups I had ever grown. I tried this on the strawberries but it did not seem to help, unless I got the timing wrong. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you, Gary
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Gary,
Strawberry flavor can be affected by so many different factors: amounts of sugars, acids, and other compounds in the berries that affect fragrance and flavor, the timing of harvest, type of cultivar, soil and moisture conditions, and even personal differences in taste perception. If you're interested, this article goes into detail about factors that affect strawberry flavor. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0088446
Since there are many factors involved in flavor, there is not typically one specific thing growers can do to get the sweetest taste. That said, here are a few things you can try to get better strawberries: Test your soil. Strawberries grow best in a soil with a pH between about 5.8-6.5. You may need to make adjustments to your soil (such as the addition of lime and/or potassium) depending on your current soil composition. When you submit a soil sample, let the lab know you are growing strawberries and you will receive recommendations for this crop when you get your test results. Here is information on how to get a soil test: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/soils/soil-testing In addition, strawberries need a full sun location (8-10 hours of direct sunlight per day). They are shallow rooted and susceptible to drought -- keep them well watered in dry periods. Water content also affects flavor. Harvest when the berries are fully ripe -- underripe berries tend to be bland.
These are some things you can do. Some people prefer specific varieties for sweetness - 'Earliglow' is a very popular cultivar for flavor, and 'Flavorfest' is a newly developed cultivar that some people really like. Again, though, this will vary by personal taste perception.
ckc
Strawberry flavor can be affected by so many different factors: amounts of sugars, acids, and other compounds in the berries that affect fragrance and flavor, the timing of harvest, type of cultivar, soil and moisture conditions, and even personal differences in taste perception. If you're interested, this article goes into detail about factors that affect strawberry flavor. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0088446
Since there are many factors involved in flavor, there is not typically one specific thing growers can do to get the sweetest taste. That said, here are a few things you can try to get better strawberries: Test your soil. Strawberries grow best in a soil with a pH between about 5.8-6.5. You may need to make adjustments to your soil (such as the addition of lime and/or potassium) depending on your current soil composition. When you submit a soil sample, let the lab know you are growing strawberries and you will receive recommendations for this crop when you get your test results. Here is information on how to get a soil test: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/soils/soil-testing In addition, strawberries need a full sun location (8-10 hours of direct sunlight per day). They are shallow rooted and susceptible to drought -- keep them well watered in dry periods. Water content also affects flavor. Harvest when the berries are fully ripe -- underripe berries tend to be bland.
These are some things you can do. Some people prefer specific varieties for sweetness - 'Earliglow' is a very popular cultivar for flavor, and 'Flavorfest' is a newly developed cultivar that some people really like. Again, though, this will vary by personal taste perception.
ckc
