Alpine strawberries, or wild strawberries, can produce fruit with as little as four hours a day of sun, so are ideal for autumn sowing.
Alpine strawberries, or wild strawberries, can produce fruit with as little as four hours a day of sun, so are ideal for autumn sowing.
- Varieties such as Baron Solemacher, Fraise des Boise and Mignonette will provide good crops.
- Sow from seed in autumn or spring using seed pots containing a multi-purpose compost.
- Ensure the compost is fine and firmed prior to sowing. Alpine strawberries have shallow roots that can be damaged easily through cultivation or by the hot summer sun, so they do best in compost.
- Sow seeds on the surface and cover them lightly with some sharp sand.
- Cover with glass to maintain humidity and shade until germination. Autumn-sown seeds will live through winter if they are kept in a cold frame.
- As soon as the seedlings have two true leaves and are big enough to handle, prick them out, 2.5cm apart.
- Plant out in May in an open or lightly shaded spot.
- Pick the strawberries when they are bright red all over and ideally during the warmest part of the day.
- Eat them as soon as possible as they do not keep well once ripened.
Adapted from Royal Horticultural Society advice, www.rhs.org.uk.
