Wild Strawberries: From Propagation to Harvesting and a Delicious Strawberry Tart

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Wild Strawberries: From Propagation to Harvesting and a Delicious Strawberry Tart
![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRVtvSZTwGQqXVJGYWAXNzqM1DDE5uNzvGa8Er3MVUxoA/7bac6184_f220_4045_b381_ec13a04fb754.jpg)

A couple of years ago, I learned that wild strawberries have the highest antioxidant levels among all berries. Their leaves are just as beneficial. I use them as tea, in skincare, as a mouthwash, and to support digestive health.

So, I propagated some from seeds I gathered in the wild and planted them throughout the garden and in plant pots. Below is how I did it.

![See those seeds!](https://images.ecency.com/DQmYKBtcf6nLCryWx11Y8KxZoh9qSASbFSPND21XfC86Gpz/30317f2e_3b19_4cde_85bd_c04666b58859.png)

![Pouring evenly.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmT18Bppcg4rjaHfJuVfhZK8EGh4ZjNqeiLXSsAiCiYPD6/e471895a_ff39_4464_a019_9609e6ee1c53.jpg)

I squish the berries in water to disperse the seeds and pour the mixture onto the soil.

![Lightly covering the seeds.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmWfh6yU1PUsueSDHkgaxq4MJHQE5kRaECVrh9pTHUMvMu/b85c0fb6_42f0_43de_a757_751b5c9c600e.jpg)

Add thin layer of soil on top.

![Covering will keep it warm and moist, encoraging to sprout.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTUnosmJVkYCVqjaCzCgwLzuxPTpWXqzubypkgPQC5q6v/8e8f8edc_c7af_4b84_9e14_87ab5e8bdd93.jpg)

Cover with plastic. After 10 days, a few strawberry plants will sprout.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmQGr6uNPw7VN8ohfod84o84W8qj1WF45jyma9BT8YNsyX/15305f3b_5a36_4ba5_832f_7020e3f8ad09.jpg)

Only this year have I seen them really thrive, plenty of flowers and producing lots of fruit.

![little beauty](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdWWVmt8FfsTTwknpFzhoNxHCo6CST1bHrxHDCvXXmrg2/6892681f_5df8_4454_99cf_4f534f08f511.png)

Very dainty white flowers.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZ4JiGxW31HkWq23k1JvEv9wMvdHvAjyXyb2ccrxEVmJS/054dbf5a_20ff_4546_a7a4_79ce53bd1435.png)

They are now growing everywhere!

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTwj2x24jk5T1nQVqwUYAsvbcrEDEjDbToAnCdiyzqvd1/b58bce34_d5bd_4962_a9aa_87725e433b24.jpg)

The berries are mostly hidden underneath, and I had to sweep the leaves aside to see.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdi5GLQAu6SdRnrUtroVeHH7fqcHQhN6FNS7kfRyZiJw6/2feb177b_01b6_4f42_8fd1_2ab8908b4f40.jpg)

I picked some ripe wild strawberries, along with a few from my regular strawberry plants.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmbPnwaST8WkGiuCpQP3YUT8Tikag4s97ycAQutnYoNSqT/0fbe18dd_75e0_4e81_ada7_0425bfe072bf.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPEMvtU7hVf7keCoAaQSqv3ACudxhUmscmANiymQHn9Cj/4145049f_9178_495d_bff0_67f2f4803f39.png)Wild strawberries are tiny but bursting with flavour and nutrients.

I thought of making a strawberry tart for everyone to enjoy.

🍓 Classic Strawberry Tart Recipe

Ingredients:

For the crust:

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPhxtXhAyM7FCrYb8H29Cq4km2ooMHUcnuHAiuJ7v6XeA/0ef79dce_39cd_4647_a13c_74144a34ab84.png)

1 1/4 cups (160g) all-purpose flour

1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

1/4 cup (30g) powdered sugar

1 egg yolk

1–2 tbsp cold water

Pinch of salt

For the pastry cream :

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTQMdRb18WNC4Hx4PnVqXyXDRtporsP58t62TYhMh5jsE/5a0b0b91_2318_4c38_9490_699a5e95056a.jpg)

1 1/2 cups (375ml) whole milk

3 large egg yolks

1/4 cup (50g) sugar

2 tbsp cornstarch

1 tsp vanilla extract (or 1/2 vanilla bean)

2 tbsp unsalted butter

For topping:

![See the difference in size, wild and regular strawberries.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmexK34PKMPvpR5tWELyBBe2LGXm3roLX36rFN7EaBMzCB/2248d339_f3a3_4744_accb_e6808ed44b94.jpg)

About 1 lb (450g) fresh strawberries.

Optional: apricot jam for glaze (about 1/4 cup) or honey if not available.

Instructions

1\. Make the tart crust:

![ensure that the butter is cold.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmcEH9PUdqqd2B7NZzepibDhHpaJ31jF3B9kJpNqqJC87W/9539e738_6522_4667_a72e_45553da027d3.jpg)

![resembles coarse sand or breadcrumbs](https://images.ecency.com/DQmR93VR1HKFX4x4NghKVrrnPmDmzmfSkeK52EmMT8U7n6v/3b867c7b_3de3_440a_acde_4d471ce3fb3d.jpg)

In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt. Add cubed butter and rub with fingertips or blend gently until crumbly.

![Drop that egg.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmSsFM7J9cb3f3aTWFC9GHi9CyBfcim7Yi4sXJg6FyLjqc/e1728b40_e5a6_48f5_85a1_05ad5c97f547.jpg)

![Do not overwork.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmewMxH3tqjBnjm3zz3BUYxnYG9kkxy2cjx53oKpbZY5nj/7de021d0_b8a6_4d2c_ba92_303e5c3d2bd9.jpg)

Add egg yolk and cold water, mixing gently until dough just comes together.

![I would recommend a flatter disc.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmchdzvwhxq18mEMxb7M21vHkQGifSpAzMhYavbuSDzgfa/720df60d_24b9_4760_955c_a223cb1660c7.jpg)

Form into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30 mins.

![Eee, the edges don’t look right.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmf3o3neM9AcmfLqfFemwRnFRHGCEw8s4tgVDR5gFjmjqc/7c798fa3_aefa_45a8_aa30_8d6137a7dd47.jpg)

Roll out the dough.

![Phew, it is formed at last.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdNWey3iL8AJVawDhFdcL8ckFieZ9bgEKpK76WeJ7fLaZ/86fb607e_1855_493f_8924_53d9524630f3.jpg)

Press into a tart pan (9-inch/23cm).

![I could prick as many, love it!](https://images.ecency.com/DQmS6FJenD2zz5s2LbqHxyhxRm9526HawsZwJf6yYNC2E94/e9a4c1c0_7cdd_4295_b3f7_c15f6d88b299.jpg)

Prick the base with a fork.

Chill 15 minutes

![That rustling sound when I pour is nice.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmSp8JQYXvpJ2tAmHdPi9zB5Hf7ex2dEef9hveaeWSz2C5/fbc467a7_0cbe_4c74_bb1c_790ebaf7fb67.jpg)

![I used chickpeas](https://images.ecency.com/DQmWjwmCHMQwUAUKm5xrPjoRKymGPiPcefodrHEj8vguMXS/bae117e5_4d15_43a6_a3e5_6d82c8ad077e.jpg)

Blind bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes with parchment and weights.

![Not a bad pastry shell. ](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTXcMm17c4m7pWt87Ri2eiNMAccThNSD8DjG1ZffEHikJ/b164f299_3179_442d_b755_cad6fe2cd295.jpg)

Then another 10 minutes uncovered until golden. Let cool.

2.  Prepare pastry cream:
    
    ![on low heat](https://images.ecency.com/DQmNizg2npzUtAAkfRiCaYUcCPpvPw141cK8Qo8Ut9SFrrK/e0a0fbba_3fb4_4081_9740_7d743ceee0ac.jpg)
    

In a saucepan, heat milk until just simmering.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRhUJpFhKcJ1Wh7iBX1ibBmE1fJ8Rs3bNnAaHbv9RNt6Z/287776da_acb8_408f_b483_64e606be7029.jpg)

![hmm, turned to a custard.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmbhJ9kRJ1sS1BxhwR6kRwnKUpyQz1tLqsp14wxu3cLHeb/45816583_e078_4430_93f0_e607645f72b8.jpg)

In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until pale and thick.

![whisk, pour, altogether!](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZ9sN88zZBCpiJndnQc7BR8S6h8wLpnwXJ8WcAWfqyZSy/abc7c456_13b3_4e4c_ba00_d94b4f3d39f0.jpg)

Slowly pour in hot milk while whisking.

![will turn bubbly.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmf8EW85mQXGupKpBfj5SsKkUY7T8jwjdLoL7bbV1WZ7VW/cc6868ef_a849_432e_98c1_9598cea08f26.jpg)

Mix well.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTiQLKirmAxcXnBAzbXKZM2NvJ7oWLmL7Dqqs8EX1tVTx/666b4baf_b777_41f0_86bc_2099fed62db0.jpg)

Return mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat,

![Stir , stir, stir.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmbzofBJre1TNR9j3bjwnVQbGkDEjHcNjk3RBkdv1CitJ6/9b3bf44a_b256_4b18_a686_64ddfa19e26e.jpg)

Stirring constantly, until thick and bubbly.

![Vanilla scent balances the fruity strawberry.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmf4wc1v3txQFohVZg9NymENLUDfrLLykvHavpEULGY7fG/454ed200_c80f_4b5f_8e48_d16e22786e92.jpg)

![Butter gave it a gloss.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmU9TnJndvFHxoTCyTyiynnqM9TdmmisDHWfCrd2DT8imJ/207ca315_8707_4e26_8d8d_1184bd3e9236.jpg)

Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla. Strain for smoothness.

![Use biodegradable plastic if preferred.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmU1nBwcT7iyYLj4yxbEnn2qu5ModjyT7FmJs3hYdQ2hmA/083d2800_d458_45c3_b921_b8613a4449a8.jpg)

Cool with plastic wrap touching the surface to prevent skin.

![Ready for assembling.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZf2HNutNMqA4xyTR2LwpQ58dRar6nCQWszRtSZ1UygfY/f10d2728_46b5_4346_bda9_9d0879890a1e.jpg)

3.  Assemble the tart:
    

![Fun fun fun!](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZjtNJiuxYA7K4nu6H7FdmMnKZU8Hb9FLkiuTjWfnSB3S/46db56b0_5907_4dfb_bed0_4aa10148698b.jpg)

Spread cooled pastry cream in the baked shell.

![Dropping the wild strawberries on the outer part.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmS8D2Cg14nrCQHASn4eKD41Mf5WNmEC5aca6Wt2ZKMhhZ/b468958e_9a79_4844_91e5_6dca8581270f.jpg)

Arrange strawberries on top.

![I aways like the finishing bit!](https://images.ecency.com/DQmewoX3w2z5VQ3HXmtAtMsbowGRwbozEp2RERXqMqNJh9E/18ab9261_b1d6_4a9d_8847_f731c6b5a226.jpg)

![I love brushing!](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTjm3Wpk6nGr4bo39SHBjpjEZ4McZhWTX1UZY39RssPbQ/da2e9c53_5fad_47d5_916f_d445a3b72c6b.jpg)

4.  Optional glaze: Warm apricot jam or honey with a splash of water. Strain and brush over strawberries for shine.
    
    ![So glossy!](https://images.ecency.com/DQmaFLDY382mVGSG28DUwGCSJY5TnCTChmf9LpbfDFyVrar/e90270fd_b2da_4c53_83d4_59f88ae42c55.jpg)
    
5.  Add mint leaves for a fresh touch!
    

![Would you like a piece?](https://images.ecency.com/DQmcVVnvGMp3a3XsGTeLiPaH5hWzEDT1D6xACKXbSKwWphX/5f1f8ce0_8e3d_415c_b7df_6ce84a4072b1.jpg)

This strawberry tart was delicious and perfectly balanced in flavour,

The wild strawberry paired with the regular juicy strawberries created a lovely contrast of sweetness and tartness.

With a flaky crust and creamy custard, that is not so sweet. I can’t wait to harvest again and make more!

![It brightened a gloomy day.](https://images.ecency.com/DQmR56XSNgafASr6dRBc75u9ZMWnnw3CFYN5Jtkxr4xGZGp/26615ad4_980c_4d3e_bb4b_e18dc4d6dfae.png)

It was lovely with a hot cuppa, eaten outside just after the rain stopped!

Try making it, you won’t regret it!

Have a lovely day!

Mariah 😊🍓
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