Strawberry Disappointment

shazrobo

Corona wrote: »

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?

the plants grow from year to year, and expand and seem to take over any space available to them

A._Badger

Corona wrote: »

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?

Fortunately, you don't need new plants every year. All things being equal, they will last about three years, with the best crop being in their second year.

Even then, because they produce runners, which you can easily root (just peg them down into a pot with some compost in it) you can produce plenty more to replace the originals.

Eventually you will need to buy new plants - but not for some time.

A good garden centre will have strawberry plants but, sadly, even they often sell the dreaded Elsanta. If that is all your local one offers, it might be worth buying plants early next spring, mail order from one of the specialists who advertise in gardening mags.

Hope that's some help.

anudeglory

I wish I knew which variety of Strawberries I had when I was in California. They were the size of tangerines and tasted of Strawberries too!!

I did have some good ones when passing Stone Henge a few months ago, though the signs of 50p for Strawberries is very misleading as the measley punnet we had cost £2 !! They were nice though.

butterfriends

ava strawberries are quite nice - they're normally the tesco finest variety
their standard ones are unpleasant this year - my strawberry fiend toddler spat them out and said 'yuck'
we normally get them from m&s and they really aren't that much more expensive - certainly better value because at least they get eaten

[Deleted User]

I am very lucky in that I live in Kent the Garden of England .withing 20 minutes of me I can pick fresh strawberries and have them on the table very quickly.Where one of my grandsons goes fishing there is a pick your own cherry farm as well. half an hour and I can be in Whitstable and buy the fish so fresh off the boat its almost jumping into my bag. I do try to use the local farm shop or fresh 'proper' butchers rather than the supermarket if possible as I like to think my food hasn't been boxed up weeks ago and flown halfway around the world.I know for some its hard to buy fresh food if you live in a city.

[Deleted User]

A._Badger wrote: »

Fortunately, you don't need new plants every year. All things being equal, they will last about three years, with the best crop being in their second year.

Even then, because they produce runners, which you can easily root (just peg them down into a pot with some compost in it) you can produce plenty more to replace the originals.

Eventually you will need to buy new plants - but not for some time.

A good garden centre will have strawberry plants but, sadly, even they often sell the dreaded Elsanta. If that is all your local one offers, it might be worth buying plants early next spring, mail order from one of the specialists who advertise in gardening mags.

Hope that's some help.

Very helpful thanks. The reason I asked is because someone told me that you need to replace plants regularly otherwise they pick up viruses, which then affect the soil, so you can't grow more strawberries in that area for a while (don't know if that's right). However, potting up runners sounds like it might get around that - at least for a few years. And, I guess using grow bags instead of straight into the ground would help too? Will look out for a mail order source to get me started next year.

If anyone can recommend varieties for home growing other than Jubilee (in case I can't get them) that would be appreciated.

lynzpower

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)

There are loads of farm shops in Kent and essex ( as near in as romford or just past sidcup) If you drive that way youll see quite a lot. Alternaively try borough market, I bought organic blueberries there last week for the same price as tescos- perfect. I think its thought to be expensive but there are good bargains/ better qual for same price if you hunt.

Otherwise buy organic, they wont have been force grown and obviously will have better flavours. I tend to only buy them from waitrose or M&S , lage punnets are around the 1.99 mark everywhere at the mo, inc waitrose and tesco.

Pretty much all tesco stuff tastes force grown an thats why Ive stopped buying from there :rolleyes:

paulwf

anudeglory wrote: »

I wish I knew which variety of Strawberries I had when I was in California. They were the size of tangerines and tasted of Strawberries too!!

I don't know if they are the same but M&S sell King Strawberries from the USA which as the name suggests are a massive and have a lot of flavour. Not sure of the pack size but at £6 per box they aren't good value this time of the year when British packs are all half price....probably worth getting outside of the normal season though as they do have more flavour than the other overseas options.

paulwf

Corona wrote: »

YI'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

Actually Elsanta and Jubilee are exactly the same price at M&S and the same pack size. And guess what...when sold side by side the sales of Elsanta far outsell those of Jubilee! I've no idea why, although the Elsantas to be fair are fairly good.

The very first crop of the season of British strawberries they had were a "limited edition" pack grown in Yorkshire, wish I knew the variety as they were the best strawberries I have ever tasted!

I lived in Sweden for a couple of years and you could buy "smultron" a small type of wild strawberry in paper bags from street sellers and they were a real treat. Over here it all seems to be quantity and price over quality.

CG19a

I usually only ever buy strawberries when they are either from Scotland, or Hertfordshire. These are usually the best tasting in my experience, however they could still be better