Strawberries are one of the most universally grown fruit all over the world. (Let alone one of the prettiest - and not forgetting delicious - fruits that many of us grow to love as children).
So here’s some of our top tips on how to grow strawberries and which varieties to choose:
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Strawberries don’t mind most soil types, aren’t particularly hungry feeders (unlike other fruits like tomatoes for example)
They will happily cope with many weather conditions ranging from the cool, damp Scottish Hills to the sun drenched Italian valleys.
With appropriate choices of varieties and a greenhouse, fruit can be available for half the year.
Their preference is for a sunny, warm spot. Make sure you soil is well-drained, and if planting in the ground, do not grow in the same site as potatoes were grown previously, as they may pick up a virus.
I actually like growing strawberries in pots – which they lend themselves rather well to. This stops any issues with fruit resting on the ground (which causes them to rot), or with many varieties, unwanted spreading through runners.
If you do decide to plant your strawberries in the ground, use straw, or strawberry mats to protect the fruits.
Variety
Season
Cropping
Flavour
Pest & Disease Resistance
Cambridge Vigour
Early
Good for two years; replace after second year
Excellent
None
Elvira
Early
Good
Excellent
Resistant to mildew
Honeoye
Early
Good
Good
Susceptible to verticillium
Redgauntlet
Early
Often twice
Good
Resistant to botrytis
Tamella
Early/mid
Very Heavy
Good
Susceptible to crown rot
Cambridge Favourite
Mid
Good
Good
Resistant to mildew, verticillium and partially to botrytis. Susceptible to red spider mite
Elsanta
Mid
Heavy
Excellent
Susceptible to mildew and verticillium
Symphony
Late
Heavy
Excellent
Tolerates vine weevil; resistant to red core and possibly to crown rot and verticillium
Cambridge Late Pine
Mid/late
Moderate
Excellent
Susceptible to mildew
Pegasus
Late
Good
Good
Some resistance to botrytis, mildew and verticillium
Maxim
Late
Very heavy
Good
Resistant to drought
Rhapsody
Late
Good
Good
Resistant to red core, verticillium and mildew. Good for northern gardens
Aromel
Perpetual
Good, replace after one or two years
Excellent
Susceptible to mildew
Mara des Bois
Perpetual
Good
Excellent - wild strawberry flavour
Resistant to mildew
A Great Guide to varieties from Garden Organic
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