Complete Novice - Buying Strawberry Plant

[LindaS]

Hi all
Am a complete novice so please excuse any ignorance!!! Am interested in growing strawberries in a container. Rather than start from seed is it possible to buy some Marshmello plants already established and if so where is the best place to buy?!! Is it ok to plant them now or is it too early/too late?
Thanks and sorry if it sounds thick!

[flobadob]

Hi LindaS
Welcome to the vine, not got an answer for you, but you are in good company with lots of novices. No need to feel any ignorance at all, as we all start from the same spot.

[LindaS]

Thanks Flobadob!!! Have grown veggies from seed for the first time this year, am growing lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and cucumber in a mini-greenhouse but am 'new' to fruit!!
Cheers!

[SueA]

Hi LindaS, welcome to the 'vine'. You should be able to buy some strawberry plants from a garden centre or even somewhere like B&Q but it is a bit late to start them off now. Having said that you might get some fairly well established plants at a knockdown price, supermarkets like Tesco, Lidl, Morrisons etc. also sometimes sell them. Ideally you should pick the flowers off which develop now & not have any fruit until next year but if you want fruit this year go ahead & let it develop, you just might have to replace some of the plants next year or they may not fruit as well then. Good luck.

[LindaS]

Cheers Sue - will have an excuse to go B&Q now!!
Thanks a bunch!

[Lesley Jay]

Linda welcome to the grapevine. If you can't find any strawberry plants I can send you some runners later in the year. They are not Marshmello but they are very tasty strawberries!

[LindaS]

Wow Lesley thanks for the offer! Am so glad I found this forum, lots of helpful tips and helpful people - its good to be able to chat to other people about growing stuff!! Like I say, only been doing this for a few months but am 'addicted' already!
Linda

[sewer rat]

Hi LindaS
Welcome to the 'Vine - it can become seriously addictive as a large number of us grapes can testify - hope you enjoyit s much as we do - oh yeah - and find it as helpful too

[LindaS]

Immense enjoyment, my Mother can't believe it, am turning into a 'right little gardener' apparently lol!

[Jaxom]

Gariguette are the best I have tasted. I had my first Gariguette strawberry today from the plants I bought from Ken Muir this spring. I will be keeping all the runners they throw off and planting them up for future years. The taste can only be disscribed as being heavenly. They were not cheep but they sure are good!
This is what Ken Muir has to say about Gariguette strawberries.
"it dates back to the 1930s and is considered to be the French equivalent to Royal Sovereign on account of its pleasing fragrance and sugar-sweet flavour. The elongated fruits are a brilliant vermilion-red. The flesh is delicate, soft and particularly juicy ... totally mouthwatering and with sugar and cream added it is at its most delectable. Gariguette is grown commercially in Provence and brightens up the local market stalls during the early summer.The fruits are not firm enough for the U.K. supermarkets but they are sold fresh in punnets at Harrods, Knightsbridge, when in season. Flavour: Excellent. "

[LindaS]

Thanks Jaxom, at the moment am not having much luck getting anything, too late i fear, never mind always next year!