PICK STRAWBERRIES - FOR HOME-GROWN FLAVOUR

When it comes to getting value for money and the best flavour, strawberries are hard to beat, says fruit expert David Patch

- David Patch

Gardening isn't really about cost-benefit analysis. We don't make cold, dispassionate lists of pros and cons when deciding what to grow it's normally more to do with what we like to eat, or even an attempt at an idealised version of ourselves, trug in hand, laden with delicious produce, just like they do on the TV.

But maybe we should take a harder look at the ratio of reward to effort when choosing what to grow - after all, we all have limited time, effort and money, so why not concentrate on those crops that will reap the most benefit? An apple tree is probably the best 'bang for your buck' - 50-year life span, easy to look after, regular heavy crops and varieties you simply can't taste unless you grow them yourself - but I'd put this month's topic near the top of any data-driven list of 'fruit to grow'.

Strawberry plants are cheap and easy to buy, they have few special requirements, and they even produce new plants for you year after year. The real bonus though, is the taste - picked fresh from your own plants, still warm from the summer sun, the flavour is incomparable to anything you can buy.

CHOOSE A SUNNY SPOT

Strawberries love free-draining soil, ideally in full sun - they'll need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight through May and June to produce the best-flavoured fruit. They do need some moisture to allow the fruit to develop properly and not split, so if you do have a very sandy soil, consider mulching in spring to conserve moisture. Raised beds are ideal, as are containers or even hanging baskets. If your ground is on the heavy side, add plenty of grit and organic matter before planting to improve drainage.