PLANT THOSE STRAWBERRIES

After not growing strawberries last year, I vowed to get some in early – which I’ve now done. In my opinion, there are very few things that can beat the taste of a freshly-picked strawberry still warm from the sun. In fact, they’re so tasty and sweet eaten fresh, I rarely have any left for jam-making or cooking. Strawberry plants are available now at garden centres around the country. Many are already in flower, which means, if you plant them now, you’ll have even less time to wait until they’re ready to harvest.

Grow strawberries on mounds in fertile soil in full sun, spacing plants 20-30cm apart. Be careful not to completely bury the crown or it could rot. Strawberries also grow very well in containers, troughs and hanging baskets. Use good quality strawberry growing mix which has everything they need to get them off to a strong start. Whether planted in the ground or in pots, feed your plants fortnightly with liquid fertiliser and water regularly to maintain moisture levels – this is particularly important once fruit starts to set! jumpstart on spring, grab punnets of seedlings from garden centres or nurseries and get them in the ground. To get an idea of what you can plant, just take a look around your local garden centre. They rarely stock anything that won’t survive. My local Kings Plant Barn has a sign above its tomato seedlings saying it’s still too early for growing them outdoors so they will need to be kept under cover (helpful advice!). Garden centres are a great source of information so don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure about what will grow well. They are there to help!