If your strawberries haven’t been producing the sweetness level that you were expecting, there could be an explanation. In most cases, it’s the strawberry’s inability to fully develop that leads to a sour taste. If the weather was cold, cloudy, or rainy during the growing season in May and June, or if temperatures soared to extreme levels, then your berries could be sour or bitter in response.

While some varieties are simply sweeter-tasting than others, most causes of sour strawberries can be attributed to less than ideal growing conditions. If your strawberries aren’t sweet, look at your current soil conditions. Strawberries perform best in well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic soils.