Strawberries are a favorite summer fruit all around the world. I grow them every year especially for my grandchildren who love to find them hiding under the leaves. They know how to pick the fruit nicely from the plant by pinching the stalk just above the fruit. If they are not eaten straight away they will last better.

Strawberries are better eaten ripe, should you want to make jam, it is probably best to use firm fruit. Nothing beats home made strawberry jam!

However, this year my strawberries have refused to provide me with all the new plantlets for next season’s crop!What did I do wrong?  Are they getting their own back?

I get the certified plants from the nurseries every two or three years. I plant them in big containers with potting mix and compost because they have big appetites. They are cosseted to a high degree and this is how they repay me!!

Weeds are not an issue, as they are easily removed should any have the temerity to grow.Growing strawberries in the garden, it is best to cover the area with black plastic, and make slits in the plastic approximately 40 cm apart and plant the strawberries through the slits. This keeps the weeds at bay. Should you need to irrigate lay the water lines before laying the black plastic.

 They are grown close to my sunny back door so even the birds are not a problem and it negates the necessity of having to cover them with netting or other forms of protection.If you are lucky you may have a specially built fruit section with netting protection in place

 When they have finished fruiting and we are all sick of eating strawberries I usually clear away the old leaves and carefully give them sulphate of potash at around 15 g per square metre and water them well. 

Usually I have extra pots that I have trained the runners to root in, but this year alas no runners.Am I worried? No way, the plants have produced copious amounts of fruit for last 6 to 8 months and that is all that matters.  Now I will just have to go shopping for more at our nursery , any excuse will do ! Roll on next summer!