Alan Titchmarsh talks to an expert about growing fruit in the garden.
Strawberries are often viewed as a summer fruit, and the sweet fruit is easily grown at home for budding gardeners. Sowing strawberry seeds is an ideal activity for children, in which the literal fruits of their labor are quickly seen and tasted. They are versatile, all they need is sun, shelter, and fertile, well-drained soil. According to horticultural experts at BBC Gardeners World, these plants can be grown in pots or in straight ground.
He said: "You can buy strawberries as potted plants in the center of the garden in summer, or as mail order operators in spring or autumn.
"Different varieties of strawberry crop are available at different times - early, middle and late season varieties.
"If you choose a mix of varieties, you can cut them in the long season."
Alternatively, perennial, perennial or perennial varieties turn on and off during the summer, and produce small fruits.
They are a good choice for small gardens as they have a long harvest season and do not take up much space.
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'Easy' Ways To Grow 'Sweet And Juicy' Strawberries - How To Ensure Their 'Growing Up' By Summer (Photo: Getty)
Alpine strawberries are compact plants that grow small berries.
They are a good choice for semi-shaded areas or front borders and grow well in pots.
The experts continued: "Strawberry plants usually germinate well for about three or four years, before they run out of steam.
"It's easy to propagate them to runners, though, so you'll always have fresh stocks of new plants."
Horticultural experts say that the position of strawberry plants is the key to obtaining "sweet and juicy fruit".
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He said: "Grow strawberries in a well-prepared strawberry bed, pot, growing bag or strawberry planter, in a shelter for sweet, juicy fruit where there is plenty of sunshine.
"Before planting, add well-rotted horse manure or garden manure to the soil.
"Water the plant well, especially in hot weather, and feed it regularly from early spring with more potash feed."
Strawberries should be harvested when the fruits are all red.
Replace plants every three or four years with fresh plants or new ones from runners.
Strawberries should be harvested when the fruits are all red.
Gardening tips: Strawberries should be harvested when the fruits are red on all sides (Photo: Getty)
Gardeners can buy strawberry plants in the center of the garden in late spring and summer so that they can be grown directly in the ground.
Experts advise: "First prepare the soil well by digging in a large amount of decomposed garden manure or compost.
Then spread a high potash general fertilizer on the soil.
"Plant strawberry plants 30 to 45 cm apart, 75 cm apart in rows, so that their roots are just buried, and strengthen the soil around them.
"Pour water into the well and keep watering well for the first few weeks as they stand."
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Horticultural gurus say strawberries grow "very well" in pots, hanging baskets and window boxes.
The key is to use a deep pot that is at least 15 cm wide and plant one strawberry per pot.
Experts say: "They thrive in moist but well-drained conditions, so use a soil-based fertilizer with a deep layer of gravel or broken cracks in the base.
Encourage flower and fruit sets by feeding liquid high potash feed (such as tomato meal) every week or two from early spring.
Growers can also grow strawberries in growing bags.
A growing bag will support six to eight strawberry plants, especially if gardeners lay one bag on top of the other, with holes drilled around the bag, so that the roots can go deep.