STRAWBERRIES are an essential summer treat for many British families, from being enjoyed in a bowl of cream to added to a glass of Pimms.
Meghan Markle even jumped on the strawberry wave, sending 50 jars of jam to friends and influencers to celebrate the launch of their new lifestyle website, American Riviera Orchard.
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Now King Charles’ senior gardener has revealed how you can grow perfect strawberries in your garden to enjoy this summer.
Speaking on behalf of Alt Indexroyal gardener Jack Stooks – who has worked at Highgrove Royal Gardens for over 20 years – shared with Fabulous: “The best time to plant strawberries is mid Spring until late spring, so March or April.
“In terms of planting, you might want to have your own strawberry patch.
“You want to make sure it’s clear birds before picking the strawberries.
“If you have a vegetable garden, you can separate them into Cool long lines.
“But if you don’t have space, you can mix them around the edges. Alpines do well on borders, but be content with what you have.”
And it’s not a problem if you don’t have a garden to plant them.
Jack added: “If you don’t have space on the floor, you can also put them in hanging baskets.
“Strawberries grow very well on the sides of hanging baskets.
“You can have a mix of strawberries in a little hanging basket, or you can have a specific flavor variety.
“They may be better for hanging baskets, as having them near the house can scare birds away.”
But when is the best time to choose them?
The senior gardener said: “When it comes to harvesting, you want to start picking them in June, July and August – sometimes the last ones in September.
“Some of them harvest twice a season. Normally it will be in June, then in September there may be another harvest.
Gardening Tips and Tricks
“You should pick them when they start to turn completely red. Strawberries tend to be white at first and then turn red.
“A lot of people put straw under the strawberries when they start to turn.
“You put straw underneath to protect them from the ground.
“From then on they will be beautiful, red and juicy, which is when you want to pick them to accompany a fruit salad, with some cream or to make strawberry jam.”
The best thing about strawberries is that they can keep producing new fruit, and Jack advised: “Strawberries produce runners after they set fruit, which are horizontal stems that run above the ground and produce new clones.
“It’s a bit like a spider plant.
Many people put straw under the strawberries when they start to turn. You put straw underneath to protect them from the ground
Jack Stooks
“What you do with them is pin them down and grow them in the ground to get the root ball started, or you can take them out and grow them in separate little planters.”
Originally from Zimbabwe, Jack moved to the UK and also works for the Princes Foundation in Highgrove.
Jack often uses his experience and wealth of knowledge in gardening as well as what it’s like to work on the real estate.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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