Wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca) are another of those fabulous plants to forage for free but which are also well worth growing in your own garden.
Tiny fruits but massive flavour!
Also known as Alpine or woodland strawberry, these fruits are tiny but full of flavour ! When picking from the wild it is often hard to find more than one or two at a time – and since wild populations can quickly become decimated by over-picking and uprooting of plants to transplant into gardens. Please remember that it is an offence to totally uproot a wild plant so why not plant your own instead.
They make great ground cover plants, keeping weeds at bay – even the dreaded creeping buttercup is kept somewhat in check. And you get a deliciously edible crop!
If you are foraging, wild strawberries are low-growing plants with that look like miniature cultivated strawberries. You can find them, between June and August, in deciduous woods, along hedgerows, and on rough grassland on chalky soils.
You can do everything with wild strawberries that you can with cultivated strawberries, though some things are even better wild.
Making strawberry vodka is much easier with wild strawberries as there is no chopping involved, simply add 1 litre of good quality vodka to 450gms wild strawberries. Leave for 3-5 days stirring each day, strain and bottle.
You might also like:
Strawberry sorbet – a simple recipe without the need for an ice-cream maker
No cook Strawberry Jam – no cook – no fuss – no mess!
Strawberry Margarita Ice Lollies – one for the grown ups!
… and there are loads more here. Just substitute wild for cultivated strawberries.
If you are going to forage for wild strawberries, please follow the simple guidelines:
- Always be sure you are sure of the plant before you pick it and never eat any plant you are unsure of.
- Leave plenty behind for wildlife.
- Make sure you have permission to pick
- Only pick where plants are plentiful
