SUMMER STRAWBERRIES

How to: Harvest: Top tips: Summer berries...

Is there any other fruit that signals the start of summer more than the strawberry? It is the epitome of the British summer. What’s more, strawberries taste so much better when you grow them yourself and are significantly cheaper than those found on the supermarket shelves.

Space needn’t be an issue if you are keen to grow strawberries, as they work well grown in pots, hanging baskets and window boxes. The only downside of growing strawberries with children is that if you turn your back for a moment, few will make it back to the kitchen.

Buy strawberry plants from garden centres or order online in spring. Plant out in a sunny sheltered spot in peat-free compost and well-rotted farm manure. Ensure they are planted 30-45 cm apart and that rows are 75cm apart. Keep them well watered. If growing in a pot make sure it’s at least 15cm wide and grow one plant per pot of this size. A weekly liquid tomato feed will help promote healthy growth too.

From June through to September you should get signs of fruit, depending on if you grow early, main crop or later varieties. Wait until berries are completely red before picking. Eat as soon as they are picked. They’ll keep for a few days in the fridge – if they ever get there.

Strawberry plants will fruit for at least four years. After this, they’ll begin to run out of puff. However, you won’t have to buy new plants as they are easy to propagate from runners each year.

Begin propagation in early autumn and choose a healthy runner which has already produced one or more leaves. Remove any stems emerging from the new leaves, while keeping it still attached to the parent plant. Fill pots with peat-free compost and place the strawberry runner on the surface. Hold it in place with a peg. Keeping the compost moist, wait until the new plant has developed strong roots and then using a pair of scissors snip it away from its parent plant. It can then be replanted into the ground or into a bigger pot.

Mint, dill, sage and coriander make good companions for strawberries. Just remember to grow mint in its own pot to prevent it taking over the garden.

Waste not, want not: Mushy strawberries can be turned into a super easy milkshake. Just add milk, some vanilla essence or honey and blitz.

Helen’s favourites: ‘Cambridge Favourite’ and ‘Florence’.