There are many reasons to grow one of the nations favourite fruit & here are our five with a bonus five health benefits.
There are many ways to grow Strawberries and here again we offer five tried and tested tips.

Reasons to grow Strawberries

1. They taste better when picked fresh as a result of your own efforts.
2. Strawberries have many healthy properties.
3. Jam made from strawberries and particularly wild strawberries is a top conserve.
4. Plants can look ornamental and still produce a good crop.
5. By selecting a range of varieties you can eat strawberries from May to September.

Health Benefits

1. Your daily need for vitamin C is covered with only 25 calories of sweet juicy fruit.
2. Strawberries have health benefits that include cholesterol lowering properties and contain elligic acid reputed but not yet proven to fight cancer.
3. Ignoring cream (if you must) then strawberries have half the calories of an apple and a quarter of a banana weight for weight.
4. Strawberries are rich in manganese essential for controlling blood sugar levels and enhancing memory.
5. Eating strawberries is a comforting peace enhancing activity.

The Best Tips for Growing Strawberries

1. Select the best varieties from a good nursery.
2. Remove runners to channel energy into fruit not new plants.
3. Mulch with straw or strawberry mats to conserve moisture and keep fruit clean.
4. Feed with high potash feed when the first flowers appear. Check for cultivation tips.
5. Force strawberries to produce fruit early and beat the imports. Lift crowns at the end of January and pot up in John Innes No 2. Water well and keep in a cool well lit greenhouse or cold frame.

Best UK Varieties

1. Royal Sovereign is a mid season variety that can be forced in 5” pots in a cold greenhouse for an early crop
2. Cambridge Vigour is a very good cropper of sweet aromatic fruit.
3. Ellana is used by jam makers and on some pick your own farms.
4. New varieties have been bred for the patio and hanging baskets like ‘Sweet Success’
5. Honeoye is an early fruiter with shiny deep red fruit. There are many more varieties to select from Thompson Morgan