SUPERFAST STRAWBERRIES

If planted now, strawberries can be cropping in a mere 60 days. Here's how!

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When it comes to home-grown soft fruit, strawberries take some beating. Simply plant from March to July as rooted offsets (runners) and again in late summer/ autumn as young plants. The runners for planting now will have been lifted in winter and kept in a cold store in suspended animation until needed. When they arrive, they may have few leaves, but will have a healthy crown and roots. Once planted out they quickly burst into growth and can be producing their first flowers within weeks.

If planted before the end of May coldstored runners will fruit within 60 days of planting. If planted after that fruiting may begin even earlier but may be a little lighter. In subsequent years the plants will fruit at the usual time for the variety and should go on to produce great crops for three to four years, at which stage replace with fresh, virus-free stock.

WHEN THEY ARRIVE