Strawberries, in my eyes, are a must in every gardener's garden. Not only colourful, decorative and tasty they are a vital source of vitamin C and B and wonderful to use in the kitchen. Indeed the varieties available today are a far cry from the wild strawberries past generations enjoyed but they are still delicious nonetheless. The Strawberry tree, or arbutus (Arbutus unedo), produces bright red fruits that resemble strawberries but their taste is more suited to jams and preservatives than eating. Other wild varieties such as the Alpine strawberry have fruits that taste like vanilla.

Although we refer to strawberries as fruits they are technically not. The seeds that appear on the outside of a strawberry are the true fruits and the tasty flesh is merely an accessory to them. Strawberries are enjoyed all over the world by people young and old and indeed wildlife too. If you find you have an intolerance to strawberries that causes reactions such as hives, or allergy symptoms why not try white fruited strawberry cultivars as an alternative. These cultivars lack the ripening protein that botanists believe may cause the allergic reactions to the red varieties.

When choosing a variety to grow be mindful of the purpose you will be using the strawberries for. Choose varieties that will either taste better when picked off the plant and eaten immediately, varieties that are better frozen and made into desserts or varieties that are better preserved. Strawberries prefer a light well drained soil and you may find it easier to start growing them in pots or hanging baskets. If they become to water logged the fruit will begin to rot, however there is a variety called 'Cambridge Favourite' that copes well in places with high rainfall due to their ability to hold their fruits above soil level. Using light soil instead of heavy will allow more warmth to penetrate thus ensuring the plant will grow quicker. It will also promote good drainage and prevent red core root rot. If the soil you have is heavy choose red core root rot resistant varieties and plant four weeks earlier than usual to ensure establishment. If the soil you have is not free draining add sharp sand and well rotted compost.

Strawberries are also notoriously hard to weed when they are in the ground so ensure if you are planting them to clear the area thoroughly beforehand. As a strawberry plant takes the nutrients it needs from the soil it is vital they are replenished. To ensure this add manure and/or composted straw.

Buy Strawberry Plants Online .............
	Strawberry Plant collection - 36 Plants of 3 Varieties
	In just the same way that you don't necessarily need acres of space to grow a few vegetables, by choosing the right varieties you can grow a selection of succulent, mouth-water fruit in even the smallest of town gardens. Strawberries can be grown in pots on the patio. This Strawberry Collection includes 12 Plants each of:
	Mae - Outstanding with large, firm, sweet tasting fruit.
	Cambridge Favourite - A well known and reliable cropper, giving plenty of medium-sized light red fruits. The preferred choice for jams and preserves.
	Amelia - A later cropping strawberry with delicious, natural sweetness. The berries have a regular attractive shape with a bright skin colour and good flavour.
	Available at Unwins from £22.10*
	Strawberry 'Cambridge Favourite' - 12 runners
	If you love picking your own strawberries for eating or making jam then this is the variety grown by most local farms. This well loved favourite produces a bumper crop of juicy orange red fruits of excellent flavour.
Buy Strawberry Growing Accessories Online .............
	Strawberry Tub with Strawberry Net
	A Victorian-style tub which is great for growing strawberries in and is made in a terracotta finish complete with a net. The net helps protect the fruit from birds. There is space for 32 plants and 50 litres of compost (not included). It is made from durable polypropylene for long life.
	Terracotta Strawberry Planter
	This generous and sturdy planter has specifically been designed for growing strawberries. The intention is to keep the ripening fruits off the ground and improve the air circulation around them, which will help prevent pests and diseases getting to the strawberries before you can. It has six 'planting pockets' around the side and has a wide neck, so you could comfortably fit another five plants up top and it would also be ideal for planting a small collection of herbs.
	Strawberry - Children's Grow Pack
	Help instill a love of gardening at an early age with this fun strawberry seed kit. It comes in a foil pouch, which should be used for growing the seeds, and has a drawing that can be coloured in on the front. There are some fun strawberry facts, easy to follow instructions, and it even has a recipe card for chocolate dipped strawberries, which will to help fire young imaginations.
	Strawberry Cages & Netting
	Protect your strawberries from birds and pests this summer with these heavy duty fruit cages.
	Organic Liquid Strawberry Feed
	A concentrated high potash liquid feed containing naturally ocurring nutrients and essential trace elements. Our Organic Strawberry Fertiliser provides a steady supply of natural nutrients, promoting strong, healthy growth and increased yields. Ideal for use in strawberry tubs.
	Mulch Mats for Strawberries / Lettuces (straw alternative)
	And so to beding, give your strawberries or lettuce some extra protection and – ‘tuck them in’ by placing these organic fyba mats around the base of the plants. The mats will protect the crops from soil and rain splashes, keep lower leaves clean and dry, help suppress weeds and help deter slugs.
	Strawberry Planting Bag
	Eight planting pockets. Made from durable polypropylene. Strong stitched construction. Eyeleted drainage holes built in. Size: 30cm (12") diameter x 50cm (20") high
	Strawberry Patio Planters
	Reusable planters that can be stored flat in the shed when not in use, these fab planters are just what you need for growing strawberries or herbs on balcanies, terraces, or anywhere that space is a bit tight. They have a decorative trim around the top and eight planting pockets around the side so there is plenty of room for all your favourites. The handles make it very easy to turn them or move them and they come with useful tips and growing instructions.

Planting Strawberries

• Plant mid summer to early autumn and you should have a crop the following summer.
• Plant in full sun and out of the wind.
• For heavy not well drained land plant in raised beds ensuring sufficient room around the edges for harvesting the fruits. 
• Planting too close together may encourage mildew. Choose varieties that do not have too many leaves as this may make them closer together and again will cause a mildew outbreak. 
• If planting in pots or baskets water daily whilst they're growing. 
• Add tomato feed or another potassium rich supplement approx every fortnight. 
• If planting in rows the plants should be at least 40cm in rows that are 60 cm apart.
• Protect the area from slugs using which ever method works best for you. Bearing in mind LetsGoGardening loves organic gardening! The bonus of pots and baskets is they are easier to keep slug free. 'Slug Stoppa Tape' and 'Slug Copper Rings' are ideal for this purpose.
• Place a net over the plants to protect from birds and wildlife.
• In early Spring hoe between the plants to allow moisture and air to circulate. 
• When watering take care not to splash the leaves or fruits of the plants. Use a watering can instead of a hose and water carefully around the base of the plant.
• Use straw or strawberry mats around the base of the plants to stop the fruit from lying on the ground and to prevent weeds.

Maiden plants

When a strawberry is growing they produce tendrils that have little plants on the end and these are the runners. New strawberry plants either bought or grown must be from runners. Wait till they reach approx 3 or 4 leaves and remove from the plant. Plant it in a pot of compost and water well. Label and date your runners. 

Aphids - Distorted shoots and leaves. Control: Biological control such as hoverflies, ladybirds and lacewings.

Birds - Damage to plants, eaten fruit crops. Control: Fruit cages or mesh and nets.

Botrytis - Brown spots, which are followed by a furry grey mould. The cause of the disease is too much dampness in cool conditions. Prevention rather than cure! Avoid over watering, ensure decent air circulation, cut down on fertiliser use. If infection occurs remove affected areas and burn or discard. Do not compost.

Powdery Mildew - Light grey powdery patches on the leaves, shoots and flowers. Non developing, discoloured flowers. Causes and treatment as with botrytis above.

Red Spider Mites - Speckling and bronzing of the leaves. Usually found in greenhouses as they thrive in warm and dry climates. Control: Spray underside of leaves with water to keep plant moist and turn down the temperature slightly.

Slugs - Damage to plants. Nematodes are the best way to control a slug infestation. Barriers around the plants such as crushed egg shells, sand, soot and ash work temporarily but need replacing often.  Chemical controls are on offer but make sure you choose those that do not affect the plants or wildlife. 'Slug Stoppa Tape' and 'Slug Copper Rings' are ideal for this purpose.

Viruses - There are many individual viruses that affect strawberry plants. By buying a registered disease free, disease resistant plant you should ensure that the plant will not be infected in the future. If however something does not seem quite right it is important to research exactly what you may have and if it will affect any of your other plants. If the virus is specifically attracted to strawberry plants it may be necessary to destroy and start again. It may also be useful to find out exactly where the virus originated from.