The flowers of the wild strawberry, fragaria virginiana (also known as the mountain strawberry or Virginia strawberry) blossom from early to mid-May and the fruits begin to ripen by early June when the full moon officially kicks off wild strawberry-picking season.
History
The Native American name: Odeiminidjibik, meaning "root of the heart berry-seeds," gives its name to the month of June, Odeiminigiizis, the strawberry-gathering moon.
Native Americans used strawberries extensively. The Mohawk name: Noon tak tek hah kwa means "growing where the ground is burned." Those that grow in meadows flourish after a brush burnoff.
Cultivation
Although these plants got their name due to their trailing stems that have the appearance of straw, in cultivating them, straw serves as mulch around the developing plants and tiny buds. The straw even serves to cut down on any suffocating “weeds” that might crowd the developing berry plants. They thrive under warm, dry conditions.
Small in Size, Big in Flavor and Nutrition
Wild strawberries are a lot smaller than store bought berries, which are a hybrid of wild and European species of strawberry. A Frenchman named Duchesne managed to cross breed the Chilean strawberry (fragaria chiloensis) with the Virginia strawberry (fragaria virginiana,) and that formed the basis for the large, red strawberries we see in supermarkets today (fragaria ananassa.)
Strawberries are high in vitamin C, (higher than oranges,) folate, fiber, potassium and antioxidants. Low in carbohydrates, calories, and fat, they may also lower the risk of certain types of cancer.
Medicinal Uses
Strawberries are also believed to have many healing properties. The roots, boiled for five minutes are used to treat canker sores and sties, and the berries themselves, can be made into a facial scrub. The tiny seeds act as an exfoliant. The leaves can be made into a tea which serves as a remedy for diarrhea. The fresh fruit removes discoloration of the teeth if the juice is allowed to remain on for about five minutes and the teeth are then cleansed with warm water, to which a pinch of bicarbonate of soda has been added. A cut strawberry rubbed over the face immediately after washing is said to whiten the skin and remove slight sunburn.
Foraging Competititors
Animals that eat strawberry leaves include eastern cottontail, white-tailed deer, nematodes, mites, slugs, stinkbugs, spittlebugs, weevils, and others.
Animals that eat strawberry fruits include: crows, catbirds, sparrows, wild turkey, cedar waxwings, red-bellied woodpeckers, blue jays, mockingbirds, starlings, robins, cardinals, opossums, skunks, chipmunks, voles, mice and box turtles.
Gourmet Market
If you’re up to the challenge, certain gourmet markets will pay up to $25 a pound for freshly picked wild strawberries. It may take a while, so if you’re picking, be prepared to spend a few hours or all day. After all, a good portion of the berries most likely won’t even make it to a basket. They just might be detoured right into your mouth.
Strawberry Jam
For some quick and easy strawberry jam:
- Combine 1 quart of berries with 4 cups of sugar in a heavy saucepan.
- Stir over low heat until it “juices up” and then raise the heat to medium.
- When the mixture bubbles, time it for 15 minutes.
- When the liquid begins to set, slide the pot off the heat and allow berries to cool uncovered.
- Add the juice of ½ a lemon over top.
- When cool, stir lightly and fill sterile canning jars.
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