[Muddywaters]

The bloke in the next door plot has has a tiny crop of strawberries, they are the size of blue berries. He says the plants are 2 or 3 years old. He's asked my advice. I'm no expert. What's going on with them? Has anyone got any ideas?

[Sparkyrog]

Alpines ?

[Beetroot queen]

Our alpines are much darker and taste like those sweets you used to get as a kid.

If you can take a pic we'd know for sure. Although grendel posted a pic of alpine strawberry plants the other week.

My alpines are more of a flat half circle bush if that makes sense

[Muddywaters]

That would make sense. Didn't know you could get alpine varieties. Thanks . Will have another look tomorrow.

[grendel]

we have a mix, mostly alpines, the strawberries range from petit pois sized to almost blue berry sized.
Grendel

[grendel]

normal and alpine strawbs

[Annen]

normal and alpine strawbs

Yes, the alpines seem to have the same number of seeds, but on a smaller berry.  They are lovely but takes too long to collect enough for a bowlful each, we use them as topping on ice cream.

[Beetroot queen]

I have a daughter who wont eat the alpines. I just mix them in with the big ones now and she reluctantly eats them. My son prefers them 

Some people dont like them but they do have fairly good crops.

[tribs]

I bought some alpines this year. I thought they were supposed to be more flavoursome than the normal ones but the ones I've picked so far have barely tasted of anything! Could it be the variety? These are mignonette.

[Annen]

I bought some alpines this year. I thought they were supposed to be more flavoursome than the normal ones but the ones I've picked so far have barely tasted of anything! Could it be the variety? These are mignonette.

My alpines are very tasty indeed, but what the variety is I don't know, they just crept under the fence from next door's garden (as they do!)

[lazza]

My alpine strawberries have taken over one side of the garden. In fact, when I say "my" strawberries, I think they originally came under the fence from next door! Small, but with world domination in mind!

One daughter prefers the alpines, one the main crop. I just love them both!