[sclarke624]

I grow Elsanta, very nice, very pleased with it, but fancy adding something new.  Any suggestions?  I have tried cambridge favourite and hapil, they are ok but not a patch on my elsanta.  I always mean to write down what the mags recommend but forget.  Taste will be the main thing.

Thanks

[gillie]

Try Marshmello from Marshall's Seeds.

I grew them a while ago and we loved them.  I am now starting a new strawberry bed and have rebought the same variety.

Cheers,

Gillie

[DD.]

Irresistable.

T & M.

Pricey, but does what it says on the tin.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/fruit1/product/p86553/1.html

[johnfh]

I bought 12 irresistable plants last week based on the blurb about them but have yet to find out what they taste like.  Thompson Morgan supplied them but I ordered through QVC (the teleshopping channel).  The plants looked a bit sad when they arrived but have all put on really heakthy growth in the past week. The cost was £13.95 for 12 plants (actually received 14) including delivery which I thought was not too bad. Apparently they were developed for the supermarkets based on sweetness and juiceiness but the shelf life proved to be too short so they were marketed to the general public (we plebs).

Looking forward to next year and hoping they live up to their billing,

[DD.]

Have a look at this thread - someone else pleased with them:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=43790.0

[allstars_princess]

Wild ones?  They are much smaller and you will NOT get enough for jam but the flavour is amazing! 

[Pompey Spud]

I've 45 plants in my bed consisting of Marshmellow, Mae and something else.

The 3 types, fruit at different times of the season to give a longer cropping time.

All are very tasty with large fruits especially Marshmellow.

Isn't Elsanta the type that Supermarkets sell? Produced for shelf life and not taste?

Horses and courses.

[AdsaM]

I bought "Anton" from suttons.

Big and great tasting.

Been harvesting them since Early May and still getting fruit.

[sclarke624]

Isn't Elsanta the type that Supermarkets sell? Produced for shelf life and not taste?

Yes but it is nice and tasty grown at home better than the supermarket Elsanta.

I think I will try the Irresistable as per DD, although Marshmello sounds interesting and I may be tempted to get both LOL, but keep the suggestions coming.  I'll investigate Anton and I already have alpine strawberries.  Nearly dumped the lot of the alpines, until I read pick/eat when really red or will taste soapy and that turned out to be exactly right, don't like the texture much but fine in smoothies.

[janiejakemum]

I have Albion which is meant to be an ever bearer and its defiantely that, its still producing fruit and flowers and this is the first year.

[bashful_badger]

Got this from which who did testing, might help?

Which? Gardening bought strawberries as bare-rooted plants and planted 20 of each variety 30cm apart, 60cm between rows.

Assessments of flavour and yield were made in 2007 before strawberries from each variety were weighed and then taste tasted by members of the public.

Early crop strawberries
(harvested end of May/early June to late June)

Rosie
Yield: 6-7kg

Tasters felt Rosie strawberries had a good appearance and texture. Everyone found the strawberries sweet and juicy – essential characteristics of a good strawberry. One more discerning taster detected an apple-like flavour.

Elsanta
Yield: More than 6kg

Tasters enjoyed eating Elsanta strawberries, and rated them well for appearance and texture. According to tasters the flavour was not quite as sweet as some varieties, so if you share this preference, Elsanta is a good strawberry variety to choose.

Main crop strawberries
(harvested mid June – mid July)

Alice
Yield: More than 7kg

Voted one of the best strawberry varieties for flavour and juice, they improved in sweetness and ‘strawberryness’ as the season progressed, according to tasters who ate them regularly. Not only did Alice offer a bumper crop of strawberries, it also offered the longest cropping season.

Amelia
Yield: Less than 4kg

Amelia’s strong sweet flavour was popular with tasters, as was its good conical shape and shine. Despite offering one of the lowest yield of the strawberries on test, the fruit was described as 'excellent.'

Late crop strawberries
(harvested late June to late July)

Symphony
Yield: 5-6kg

Tasters described Symphony as less sweet than other strawberry varieties, with a stronger, slightly more acidic flavour. This was not necessarily a bad thing, as they were rated highly by tasters overall.

Sophie
Yield: 5-6kg

Described as having a ‘classic’ strawberry shape with a particularly bright and glossy red skin, these are good-looking strawberry fruits offering an average yield. Sophie strawberries had a well-rounded flavour that scored highly with tasters

[viettaclark]

I am really knocked out with the flavour of "Maras de Bois" which is a perpetual hybrid from the woodland strawberry. It has a good size, darkish berry with that "wild" flavour and will grow in semi-shade. I got mine from Ken Muir. They are still fruiting!