Strawberry Jam Forever
This is my absolute favourite time of year. These last two weeks of June have the perfect weather – not too hot, lots of sun and the sunsets are amazing. It feels like 4pm long after dinner and I have enough light to garden right up to bedtime.
It’s also jam season! Meaghan from Joyful Mudpuddles posted that she has wild wood strawberries growing near her house. They are absolutely tiny but packed with serious flavour. My friend Christie from Movement Snacks started a white alpine strawberries from seed but without much luck. The Snarky Gardener says strawberries are a perennial:
Strawberries come back year after year, spreading by the use of runners. Rhubarb (which was planted next to the strawberries by my grandmother) produces reddish stems which can be used in desserts (strawberry rhubarb pie anyone?).
This year I’m growing my first strawberry plant. I put it in a planter with dahlias. I didn’t know they were companion plants!!
Do you love jam?
The very best Ontario strawberries for jam will be ready this week and next. I recommend getting to an open air market early and ask for seconds. These are slightly deformed or bruised strawberries that are sold at a discount. The berries are going to get smashed so who cares if they’re not perfectly shaped!
If you are at the grocery store, do not buy California strawberries for jam – they are designed to be beautiful on the outside but have a pithy white centre and are flavourless.
Steve loves the triple berry jam and I’m partial to strawberry with caramelized onion. If you love making jam, here are some of my favourite strawberry recipes »
If you’re in the forrest hunting for wild strawberries, I highly recommend stinging nettle soup »
