Today 
Tomorrow
A basket packed with strawberries not only looks great, but will provide you with rich pickings of fresh fruit over several weeks, and all for just a few pounds. Choose your varieties carefully and you can have fruit from June until early autumn.
Plant it:
March - April
At its best:
June - July
Takes just:
30 minutes
-
Make a hole in the polythene lining of your basket to allow for drainage. -
Fill the basket with compost to just below the rim using multi-purpose with a bit of John Innes No. 3 added. -
Space the strawberry plants evenly around the edge of the basket. As a guide, a 35cm basket will hold four plants. -
Hang the basket in a sheltered, sunny spot to help the fruit ripen and encourage pollinating insects. -
Water well to settle the compost and encourage the roots to grow. Start feeding once flowering has finished.
"Mix water-retaining gel and slow-release feed granules into the compost before planting."
"Don't plant strawberries too deep. The crown, or centre, of the plant should be at soil level."
"If the basket is hanging against a wall, turn it regularly so that all the fruits are exposed to some sun."
