Pick your own

Diana · Pick your own

If anyone's thinking of PYO strawberries, I'd go sooner rather than later.

I went this morning and with all the heavy rain and warm weather we've had recently, botrytis is a real problem just now.

Tartan Stamper

We were at PYO at montrose, they also had pea pods, delish.

Diana

That's the one I went to. They had loads of different soft fruit and as you say, peas too

Ina

It's the same for all other fruits at the moment, too. I am struggling with mould in red currants and raspberries; don't leave them sitting in the kitchen for the day...

Diana

Is it better to wash them (to was the spores off) of leave them so they're dry?

Ina

Don't really know - I left one lot (red currants) out unwashed, and they had grey fur in the evening... But if you can't get them dry after washing, it's probably no better! Best is probably washing and straight into fridge. Although, I don't tend to wash raspberries, as they go mushy. Just try and make sure there's no injured or soggy fruit in the lot in the first place.
On Saturday I put freshly picked raspberries into the fridge, and on Monday some of them were mouldy, too. So it's really a battle at the moment to get it all processed as soon as possible - and my pectin hasn't arrived yet, plus I'm stubborn and don't want to switch the freezer on yet!

Diana

My freezer is on, so they all went straight in there (either whole - frozen on a tray and then bagged - or pulped - for yogurt) - that's apart from the ones destined for cream on Saturday or cheesecake on Sunday

Ina

Julie

I was once told to always pick currants on a dry day to prevent the mould thing.
I usually sit and pick them over the same evening we picked them then wash, bag and freeze until needed, but I have left them sitting for a day or two in the past and never had any mould.
I think the trick is to not be heavy handed when you pick them too as wet and bruised fruit is a perfect medium for mould.