Strawberry Disappointment

zenseeker

We live in a second floor flat, and grow our own in a window box, we made it so that the box is easily removable for planting.

This time of year all the best strawberries are (well, were) sent to Wimbledon, but now that is over you should see some better quality ones making it to the stores.

Enterprise_1701C

We use one of the strawberry pots - the one with the holes around the side (like a bigger version of the herb pots). It works very well.

Stompa

Most supermarkets these days sell a variety called Elsanta, which have a long shelf life and look good, but very little taste. I did manage to get some Sonata the other day, but they were pretty poor too. It turns out that Sonata are a cross between Elsanta and some other variety, so perhaps it's not surprising.

Eeyore2009

Chomeur wrote: »

I'll try my local greengrocers. Living in central London, going to a pick-your-own isn't really viable and nor is growing my own (I suppose I could get an allotment but I think the waiting lists are huge)

If you have a car there is a place called garsons in Esher. you can pick your own strawberries and veg

[Deleted User]

Stompa wrote: »

Most supermarkets these days sell a variety called Elsanta, which have a long shelf life and look good, but very little taste. I did manage to get some Sonata the other day, but they were pretty poor too. It turns out that Sonata are a cross between Elsanta and some other variety, so perhaps it's not surprising.

You're right. Elsanta are, apparently, favoured by supermarkets because they're good for transporting (i.e. firm) but, as you say, have little taste. I've found that a variety called Jubilee are absolutely yummy - just like strawberries should taste. (When you're buying strawberries, check out the label and they will often tell you which variety they are). Both M&S and Sainsburys are selling them at the mo. Yes I KNOW they're more expensive - but if I'm going to buy strawberries I want them to taste of something and I do honestly feel that really tasty soft fruit can rarely be bought cheaply (too difficult to transport/goes off quickly/lots of wastage for supermarkets). That's why it's so perfect for home growing!

(And, by the way, is it any wonder that our kids won't eat fruit? It doesn't matter how much we tell them it's good for them - if all we're giving them is tasteless supermarket stuff that's sold on the basis that it looks good/it's easier to transport/it can be picked unripe, etc. then they won't eat it !)

[Deleted User]

I used to grow and then buy a lot of strawberries and have no choice nowadays as I have no garden. I haven`t bought a single strawberry this year as they seem to have gone from bad to worse. Often the core is tough, big and white and there is hardly any flavour. I do buy raspberries still, sigh I used to grow loads of them, kg upon kg

I may try some pick your own but my freezer is diddy and it is hardly worth the diesel for a punnet

Stompa

Corona wrote: »

I've found that a variety called Jubilee are absolutely yummy - just like strawberries should taste.

Thanks, I must give those a try. I've been buying a variety called 'Evie' (from the Coop) which haven't been too bad.

mgardner

princesswoo wrote: »

I used to love strawberries but over the past few years i have stopped buying them as there tasteless. On the rare occasion i do buy some usually from tesco the top of the punnet is rock hard and the bottom is mush, occasionally 1 will be mouldy.

We were in spain a few weeks ago and OMG you could smell the fresh strawberries a mile off, we were eating 4 punnets a day we just couldnt get enough of them. They were delicious and so juicy.

I'd also love to pick my own but there is nowhere near us that does it, i tried growing my own but the kids would pinch them or the birds would get them so i gave up in the end.

Speaking for myself I grow as many as I can old net curtains will protect them from the birds and I just love to send the grandkids out to pinch em, raspberrys and gooseberries too. I have lovely memories as a child of being permitted to pinch the berries,

[Deleted User]

A._Badger wrote: »

Heavens, you don't need to do that!

Just buy yourself a growing bag, half a dozen strawberry plants and a packet of Phostrogen fertiliser. Try it and see. Strawberries are the easiest things to grow, take next to no space and there is simply no comparison between the ones you can produce and the rubbish sold in supermarkets.

Badger - I'm assuming that you need to buy new plants every year? (I know it would still be cheaper than buying fruit from the supermarket). Anywhere you'd particularly recommend for buying your plants?

[Deleted User]

heggied wrote: »

They're very easy to grow ...

Any advice about how best to do it? I'd like to give it a shot next year (guess it's too late for this year). I have an ordinary suburban garden (borders/lawn/pots) but have planted some edible stuff in between the shrubs/flowers.