25 Strawberry Tips & Tastes ~ GreenThumb Thursday

I have yet to meet anyone who does not like strawberries.  Except maybe those poor souls who are allergic to strawberries.  Worst. Allergy. Ever.  In my opinion anyway.  So for all the rest of us who are planting a strawberry patch as we speak I thought I would share a couple quick tips to ensure a wonderful crop this year.  Then reward you with some amazing strawberry-centered recipes to keep your red green-thumb motivated...as if eating fresh picked strawberries all summer isn't motivation enough!

First a bit of fun trivia.  Do you know what the oldest variety of strawberry is?  The Pineberry!  It's like a mini-strawberry with a taste of pineapple.  This variety was saved from extinction after it's discovery in Europe.  This reverse strawberry was introduced to the UK on April 1st and the media thought it was an April Fool's Joke!  Currently this variety is only being sold in the Netherlands but wait just one more year and Pineberry plants will be available in the United States and Canada in early 2014.  Whoo Hoo!

Read all about Pineberries here

Everything you ever need to know about strawberry types, techniques for growing, cultivating and renovating your beds is brought to you by Better Homes & Gardens.  Feel free to skip over their Test Garden Tip that I just refuse cannot bring myself to do....  

How to Grow Strawberries

"The first year of your strawberry bed, you must be brave and remove all flowers from the plants so they can establish a good root system."  Like I said.  Just. Can't. Do it.

If you're a strawberry flower-pickin-chicken like I am, why not just stick with this great tip: remove the runner!  Removing the long stems that come off the central plants stop the baby plants from growing ~ but this is a good thing!  It keeps the nutrients with the central plant so it can produce LOTS of berries.

Full Tutorial here

Strawberries are fun to and easy to grow.  Plus a great way to get the kiddo's interested in gardening and growing.  Traditional strawberry rows, strawberry pots, hanging baskets or even growing strawberries in a clever vertical garden using up-cycled gutters like I did, just go plant some already!

Vertical Garden using Gutters Tutorial here

Now that you worked SO hard planting your berries you need to keep those pesky birds away right?  Try this fun way to keep the birds away, naturally!

Strawberry Rock Tutorial here

Ok.  Strawberry School is over.  Let's move on to the fun stuff.  Strawberry recipes...nom nom nom.  

~ Let's start with Breakfast, shall we? ~

Strawberry Filled Cinnamon Pancakes

Better Homes & Gardens

Strawberry and White Chocolate Muffins

Kitchen Frau

Strawberry Bread

Reluctant Entertainer

Strawberries 'n Cream Quinoa Porridge

Family Fresh Cooking

~ How 'bout some lovely Lunchables ~

Easy Freezer Jam

Great Tastes Tuesdays

Strawberry Applesauce

Family Fresh Cooking

Strawberry Tea Sandwiches

Try It You Might Like It

Dehydrated Strawberries

Tip Garden

Strawberry Lemonade

Craftaholics Anonymous

~ Appetizers and Dinner anyone? ~

Strawberry and Mango Salsa

Peanut Blossom

Strawberry Bruschetta

The Curvy Carrot

Strawberry Avocado Salad

ValSoCal

Strawberry Risotto

My Easy Gourmet

Grilled Chicken Salad w/ a Fresh Strawberry Dressing

Eating Well

~ Is it time for Desserts & Drinks yet?!!? ~

Strawberry Pecan Fudge

OMG! I Love to Cook

Strawberry Basil Bourbon Spritzer

Marcus Samuelsson

Ultimate Chocolate and Strawberry Dessert

Domestically Speaking

Brownie Strawberry Shortcake

Bakingdom

Skinny Strawberry Basil Smash Cocktail

My Thirty Spot

Strawberry Wine Slushies

Full Fork Ahead

Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes

The Best Cupcake Recipes 

Grasshopper Strawberry Shortcake Parfait

Oh my is my mouth drooling!  Growing tips?  Check.  Motivation?  Check.  Strawberry Plants?  Check.  Saving recipes to Pinterest?  Check.  Nothing to do now but wait for summer!  I leave you with this cute baby turtle who is as hungry for strawberries as I am  =)

Teh Cute