The strawberry is an extremely popular fruit and they are very easy to grow. Grow your own with these simple instructions.

Site and soil

Strawberries are so versatile – they just need sun, shelter, and fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid areas prone to frost and soils that have previously grown potatoes, chrysanthemums, or tomatoes.
Windy places will keep pollinating insects from reaching the flowers. In poor soil, grow in raised beds, which will improve drainage and increase rooting depth. Another option is to grow in containers or growing bags.
To produce an earlier crop by seven to ten days, strawberry plants can be grown under a tunnel cloche. Place the cloche over the plants in early spring, but remove the sides when the plants are flowering in order to give pollinating insects access.

Buying and planting

Order plants in late summer so that they can be planted in early autumn.
Make planting holes 35cm (14in) apart. Trim the roots lightly to 10cm (4in) if necessary, then spread them out in the hole. Make sure that the base of the crown rests lightly on the surface. When the plant is at the right depth, backfill the soil, and keep it off the crown. Plant the next row 75cm (30in) away. Water the plants well.

Plant care

Be sure to water from the bottom as water from overhead can rot the crown and fruit.
During the growing season, give strawberry plants liquid potash feed every 7 to 14 days. In early spring, apply general fertiliser.
As fruits start to develop, tuck straw underneath them to prevent the strawberries from rotting on the soil.
After cropping has finished, remove the old leaves from strawberries, and remove the straw mulch.
Expect strawberry plants to crop successfully for three years before replacing them.