Strawberries
Strawberries do not like wet roots, preferring a well-drained site with a preferably slightly acid, medium loam, but any garden soil will do. They tolerate some shade but thrive in sunshine. Spring frosts can harm the flowers leading to no or deformed fruits. If in doubt, protect the early flowers overnight, with horticultural fleece. To avoid a build-up of disease grow strawberries in a different plot every three - four years. Alternatively raise in pots or growing bags.
Strawberries are prone to rather a lot of pests and diseases and attention to detail may well save the day: Add lots of well-rotted manure, turning it in well so the roots do not actually touch raw manure. Also note, manure left on the surface will attract slugs. In the spring, fork in a balanced fertilizer e.g. Growmore, at 100g per m2 (3oz per yd.).
Plant in early autumn or, slightly less good, in the spring. Remove the flowers from spring planted ones in the first season so that the plants can build up their strength. The crown should be at soil level, 40cm (16in) apart in the row with 1m (3ft) between the rows. Many gardeners grow strawberries through black polythene. This suppresses weeds and conserves water. It also protects fruit from soil splashing on them. Otherwise, tuck straw under the developing trusses. Special mats to lay under plants are sold.
Cultivars include early, main season and late and it is usual to plants a few of each. 10 plants of each are usually sufficient to get a worthwhile picking from. Everbearer strawberries fruit for a prolonged period in summer and early autumn, but crop little and often.
Water well in dry spells and feed every spring with a balanced fertilizer e.g. Growmore, at 70g per m2 (2oz per yd.).
A strawberry bed lasts about four years if it kept free of weeds and not allowed to get too congested. Remove surplus plants in late summer using them to make more plants of healthy.
Propagate your own plants, in late summer, no later than the first week of September, by sinking 9cm (3in) pots of cutting compost into the beds and inserting individual runners into it. Sever from parent when rooted.
For further information please see: www.rhs.org.uk/growyourown/strawberry.asp
