STRAWBERRY YIELDS
For a bumper summer crop, start planting this weekend
This is an excellent time to begin growing strawberries. Planted now, they will produce their first luscious fruits in time for Wimbledon next summer. Of all soft fruit, strawberries are surely the most luxurious. unlike gooseberries or currants, they’re worth having in any quantity, however small.
A single strawberry becomes a fancy garnish. Twenty make a tasty dessert. But gather a basketful and you’re halfway to making a batch of the most delicious home-made jam.
strawberries are economical with space and have pretty leaves and flowers to boot. You can decorate a sunny patio or balcony with strawberry pots or planters.
But if there’s more growing space, they will produce probably the best berries of all. Optimum planting time is late August to late October. With summerfruiting varieties, planting now will give you a light crop by next July. But if you miss the autumn slot, it’s fine to plant cold-stored runners from february to July.
specialist suppliers, such as Chelsea Gold Medal-winners Ken Muir, kenmuir.co.uk, offer the best choices, plus online growing guides.
You can also buy plants, or ‘ runners’, from Marshalls, marshalls- seeds. co. uk, or Pomona fruits, pomonafruits. co.uk, among others.
POTS OF FLAVOUR
sTRAWBeRRies vary in output. some produce a single summer crop. Others fruit in regular flushes.
single croppers are best for bulk production — ideal in a kitchen garden or veg patch.
But with pots or planters, perpetual varieties will provide a steady but modest supply through the growing seasons. strawberries are simple to grow, with fertile conditions and full light. They’re happy in most soil types, especially if levels of organic matter are high.
sun is essential for high yields and good flavour. if your garden is heavily shaded, Alpine strawberries, or fraises des bois, might be a better option. These are perennials with attractive leaves, pretty white flowers and tiny but delicious fruits.
When planting larger straw- berries, space runners 40cm apart, with 60cm to 70cm between rows. The fruits will be cleaner if you put straw beneath the leaves in late spring. Alternatively, place strawberry ‘collars’ on the soil beneath the fruits.
FANCY CHOICES
With so many varieties, it’s difficult to decide which will suit your needs. for me, flavour is paramount. i prefer the sweetest most aromatic berries even if the yields are not the highest.
Gariguette is an oldie with superb flavour, honeoye is firm fruited and freezes well. for colder gardens, symphony has the Rhs Award of Garden Merit for flavour and reliability. if you’re growing strawberries in planters, perpetual varieties are best, including Aromel.
i’d also recommend flamenco for its heavy crops of good-sized fruits and Mara des Bois for its flavour reminiscent of wild strawberries. Albion has a fine flavour and regular cropping.
if you’re an absolute beginner, try several varieties. That way, you can find out which do best in your garden.
Never be tempted to receive runners from well- meaning friends. strawberries are easily virus-infected so always buy from reputable suppliers.