Gardening isn't really about cost-benefit analysis. We don't make cold, dispassionate lists of pros and cons when deciding what to grow it's normally more to do with what we like to eat, or even an attempt at an idealised version of ourselves, trug in hand, laden with delicious produce, just like they do on the TV.
But maybe we should take a harder look at the ratio of reward to effort when choosing what to grow - after all, we all have limited time, effort and money, so why not concentrate on those crops that will reap the most benefit? An apple tree is probably the best 'bang for your buck' - 50-year life span, easy to look after, regular heavy crops and varieties you simply can't taste unless you grow them yourself - but I'd put this month's topic near the top of any data-driven list of 'fruit to grow'.
Strawberry plants are cheap and easy to buy, they have few special requirements, and they even produce new plants for you year after year. The real bonus though, is the taste - picked fresh from your own plants, still warm from the summer sun, the flavour is incomparable to anything you can buy.
CHOOSE A SUNNY SPOT
Strawberries love free-draining soil, ideally in full sun - they'll need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight through May and June to produce the best-flavoured fruit. They do need some moisture to allow the fruit to develop properly and not split, so if you do have a very sandy soil, consider mulching in spring to conserve moisture. Raised beds are ideal, as are containers or even hanging baskets. If your ground is on the heavy side, add plenty of grit and organic matter before planting to improve drainage.
BUY IN GOOD PLANTS
Denne historien er fra June 2024-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
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Denne historien er fra June 2024-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SEPTEMBER SPECIALS
This month, with sweetcorn, figs and blackberries on the menu, Anna Cairns Pettigrew is not only serving up something sweet and something savoury, but all things scrumptious
FLAVOURSOME FRUIT AUTUMN RASPBERRIES
September - is it late summer or the start of autumn? David Patch ponders the question and says whatever the season, it's time to harvest autumn raspberries
SOW GREEN THIS AUTUMN
Covering the soil with a green manure in winter offers many benefits and this is a good time to sow hardy types, says KG editor Steve Ott
A HISTORICAL HAVEN OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS
KG's Martin Fish takes time out from his own plot to visit a walled garden in Lincolnshire which has been home to the same family for more than 400 years
RESTORING THE BALANCE
The phrase regenerative gardening is often heard in gardening circles, but what is it? Can it help you to grow better veg? Ecologist Becky Searle thinks so, and tells us why
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Garden Organic's Anton Rosenfeld shares his expertise on using compost made from green bin collections with handy tips on getting the right consistency and quality
Celebrating Organic September!
In this special section we bring you four great features aimed at improving your crops and allowing nature to thrive
SEEING RED
Do your tomatoes have a habit of remaining stubbornly green? Or perhaps you're lucky to enjoy lots of lovely fruits - just all at once. Either way, Benedict Vanheems is here with some top tips to ripen and process the nation's favourite summer staple
NEW KIDS ON THE BROCCOLI!
Rob Smith is talking broccoli this month with a review of the different types available and suggestions for some exciting new varieties to try
A NEW kitchen garden
Martin Fish is getting down to plenty of picking and planting on the garden veg plot, while Jill is rustling up something pepper-licking good!
