Strawberries are a delicious addition to any fruit salad and can also be enjoyed with yoghurt, ice cream and melted chocolate.
For Britons who wish to plant pot-grown strawberries this year, gardening experts advise that the best time to plant pot-grown strawberries is in late summer to early autumn, or spring – by May at the latest. As we approach the end of the month, a gardening guru shared a beginner's guide to planting this flavoursome fruit in containers.
Laura from Garden Answer shared how to perfectly plant strawberries. She started with a large metal tub with four holes drilled into the bottom, and ran a drip tube through one. A drip tube is used to deliver water to plants.
She explained that big tubs are a great option for growing strawberries because these can be transported around the garden depending on which part is receiving the most sun. Laura said: "They prefer six to eight plus hours of sunshine."
The expert told gardening enthusiasts not to dig up soil from their gardens to put in the tub but instead use bagged organic potting mix. She explained that soil from the garden "compacts and gets really hard", but strawberries need "really good drainage".
Next, it's time to fill the tub with soil and level it out, leaving about an inch or two at the top of the tub.
As for fertilising the soil, Laura suggested the "low-maintenance approach" of adding a slow-release fertiliser into the soil twice a year. Alternatively, gardeners can take a liquid fertiliser approach on a two-week schedule.
If using slow-release fertiliser, gardeners should read the instructions on the packet and add it to the soil-filled tub, before mixing it in well.
Strawberry plants should then be planted so the crown of the plant sits right above the soil. Plant these around the sides of the tub if possible, with about eight to 10 inches between each plant.
Strawberry plants can be divided into two types: everbearing strawberries and June-bearing strawberries.
According to Laura, June-bearing strawberries are typically a little bit bigger, while everbearing are smaller but a little bit sweeter.
Gardeners should then set up their drip system. According to the expert, drip irrigation for strawberries is "the best way to go" if you live in a humid, wet environment. They also like being watered from the root rather than overhead.
Laura then added a top dress of straw which the strawberries will be able to rest on when they start to grow.
The expert said: "This will help the strawberries stay nice and not rot and it will also create a barrier from insects."
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The expert recommended popping the tub up on risers as opposed to a flat surface if you are using a drip tube, as this creates a little bit of distance between the pot and the ground. She explained that this would be beneficial for effective drainage.
As for watering, strawberries flourish in "consistently moist" soil but "never soggy".
Gardening enthusiasts can also try their hand at producing beautiful roses with an expert technique.
