How to Grow Strawberries

By Alex N

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

Alex N

I'm passionate about online learning, and lucky enough to work for Learning with Experts. Most recent course: The Pie Shop with River Cottage's Tom Morrell. Next course: Container Gardening with Chris Beardshaw.

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