Oma Heine's Garden Pearl - Everbearing Strawberry

This is where things get really exciting for anyone who doesn't want to give up that "red gold" even in late summer! While other varieties call it a day after the first big flush in June, this special plant is just getting started.

This variety is a true everbearer. For you, that means you can keep snacking on fresh fruit all summer long, well into September. The berries are usually medium to large and have a beautiful, uniform heart shape.

The taste? An absolute highlight! The berries have a refined, balanced sweetness, complemented by a very pleasant freshness. They have a firm bite while remaining wonderfully juicy – perfect for fruit tarts, in muesli, or simply eaten straight from the garden. Because they retain their firm structure, they look as fresh-picked as ever even after hours as cake decorations.

The absolute highlight is their stamina during harvest:

• The first wave begins classically in June, at the same time as the early varieties.

• After a short breather in July, it starts its second, often even more lush phase from the beginning of August.

• You can keep snacking on fresh, sun-ripened berries straight from the bush well into September and – with mild weather – even up until the first frost in October.

Tip: With Oma Heineks Beste, you ensure a more abundant harvest. It produces fruit while the 'Gartenperle' is getting ready for its second flush.

The "Strawberry Summer Smash" (Non-alcoholic)

This drink perfectly showcases the aromatic sweetness and firm structure of your berries. Since the fruits are so beautifully heart-shaped and firm, they also make excellent garnishes for the rim of the glass!

Ingredients (for 2 glasses)

• 200 g fresh strawberries (ideally the firm, aromatic ones)

• 1 organic lime (juice of half, the other half sliced)

• 1 handful fresh mint leaves

• 1 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar (depending on the sweetness of the fruit)

• 300 ml ginger ale or sparkling mineral water

• Crushed ice or ice cubes

Preparation:

1. The "Smashing": Take about 6 to 8 strawberries, remove the stems, and quarter them. Add them to a tall vessel or directly into the glasses along with the maple syrup and the juice of the half lime.

2. Muddling: Gently crush the berries with a muddler (or a spoon) until a fruity pulp forms. Don't puree them completely – small pieces of fruit make the drink more rustic and attractive!

3. Aromatizing: Give the mint leaves a quick clap between your palms (this releases the essential oils) and add them to the glasses along with the lime slices.

4. Cooling: Fill the glasses generously with ice.

5. Filling: Top up with ginger ale (for a spicy note) or mineral water (for pure freshness) and stir carefully.

6. The Finish: Since your berries grow so beautifully and uniformly, place a whole, intact fruit on the rim of the glass or skewer it onto a small wooden pick.

Pro tip: If you prefer something a bit more "grown-up," replace the ginger ale with a non-alcoholic tonic water. The bitter note harmonizes fantastically with the strawberry sweetness!