Strawberries are probably the most common ‘gateway drug’ into the world of fruit growing. The plants are small, so don’t take up a lot of space and can be very successfully grown in containers or pots. The plants themselves are relatively cheap, so the initial investment isn’t as daunting as buying an apple or pear tree. As fruit goes, getting a usable crop is pretty straightforward and the fruit is utterly irresistible, whether picked warm, sweet and delicious, and eaten straight from the plant or cooked into jams, coulis, sorbets or syrups and stored for later.
SPRING
Spring is an excellent time to plant new strawberry runners. In March and April you will find them in pots in any garden centre, and planting new means you take less risk of any losses over the winter. The plants will already have a good root system on them, and should be in full leaf, so you can make sure they are healthy before you buy. Plant as soon as you get them – strawberries are very hardy plants – and they will start to establish quickly. As with any new plant, keep well watered for the first couple of months. Even though strawberries prefer a free-draining compost, new plants need good moisture levels while they are finding their feet in their new home.
MULCHING
Denne historien er fra June 2023-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
Denne historien er fra June 2023-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!
