[chooknewbie]

Hi there everyone.... thought i would have a peek in on this side and ask some opinions on strawberries...

My DD loves them, and would eat them by the punnetful if i were to let her...so have decided to grow some on my lottie... had a look and there see to be so many different varieties....

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good long harvest?

Many thanks   

[Goosegirl]

If you look in the catalogues, there are early, mid-season and late varieties, plus ever-bearers that fruit over a longer period of time and into the autumn like Aromel. You could cherry-pick (sorry - that should be strawberry pick) out of these as they can vary in their characteristics i.e. firmness, taste, disease resistance, etc. If you are prepared to wait a year, you could make a short list and buy, say, two of each variety from your local garden centre - a bit more expensive but you can select those you like rather than buying a lot that aren't as suitable - or beg from gardening friends (as long as they are not infected with a virus) and propagate your faves from these. If you pot some runners up and over winter them in the greenhouse, they should bear fruit even earlier than those outside.

[chooknewbie]

thanks for the reply.... i am all very new to growing my own, managed to get a few bits and bobs last year but still find it very daunting looking through the catalogues 

think i will try a few and see what we like best....

[garddwr]

I am also looking at several strawberries to buy.

Have a look at Bakker's Strawberry Collection

http://www.bakker.co.uk/index.aspx?N=903462&start=1

[richyrich7]

I've grew Sarian F1 from seed and they fruited 1st year and where lovely tasting, you can get some varieties as crowns in places like wilko's tho' the range is not great.
You could also ask on freecycle and get some runners for free 

Nice to see you this side of the fence 

[little sweetpeas]

I am also looking at several strawberries to buy.

Have a look at Bakker's Strawberry Collection

http://www.bakker.co.uk/index.aspx?N=903462&start=1

has anyone bought plants from this company.  I was thinking of some strawberry plants.

[chooknewbie]

oooh....just had a look at that website and i am really tempted to give them a go.....those huge ones look just delicious....my daughters eyes would pop out of her head!!!!!!

[Potiron]

If you can find in the UK a strawberry called Annabelle, its a remontant, one that fruits all year and tastes like the strawberries I had as a young-un. Its a cross between Gariguette and Sweet Charlie.. Superb.

[sclarke624]

I grow elsanta mostly crops in June.  Reliable.  Supposedly its the ones supermarkets sell in punnets. Quote: Elsanta is the variety of strawberry preferred by growers and supermarkets alike for its yield, shelf life and taste.

[richyrich7]

I grow elsanta mostly crops in June.  Reliable.  Supposedly its the ones supermarkets sell in punnets. Quote: Elsanta is the variety of strawberry preferred by growers and supermarkets alike for its yield, shelf life and taste.

Also known as the bouncing strawberry in the industry because it travels so well.

[woodburner]

I have chosen Cambridge Favourite and Royal sovereign as they are the oldest varieties still available and one or the other is almost certainly the delicious but easily damaged ones I remember eating a a child.