First Strawberries

[sewer rat]

Yay - I've had about half a dozen or so so far but should be able to start picking by the punnet next week - only in the tunnel mind you - the outside plants are currently being assaulted by wind and rain and cold - good job they're hardy little plants.

[amandaandherveg]

Well done, SR. I was at our local Fruit Farm shop today and their strawbs aren't ready for another 2 weeks yet.

[rana]

That is amazing for Easter Ross - one imagines it is pretty exposed and cold being so much nearer to the arctic circle. Are you growing any particularly early vatieties (and do you heat the tunnel) ?

[bramble]

Got a few small berries from my alpine plants this week. They are in the greenhouse.
The others are coming up closer behind.
Well done rat, considering you are living so far north.

[janeyo]

I am proud to say that in my greenhouse I have ONE going pink

shhh don't tell my little boy..... he is a demon for strawbs.

[flubba-jubba]

a couple of slugs got in to my mini greenhouse the other week.....started chomping on the strawberry leaves and a few of the flowers

i really need to get some pellets........or has anyone got a trick up their sleeve to keep slugs away??

[jackie j]

I have lots of flowers on my strawberry plants so I hope to have lots of strawberries yummmmmmmy with clotted cream mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[rogesse]

Two 'Honeyeye' with berries pinking up and a lottie neighbour gave me 25 Sovereign(?) plants today

[Sonata]

Wow, strawbs already? I'm just getting a few flowers...and aphids. Grrr!

Thing is..I only planted them from bought plants about a month ago. Should I (and can I bring myself to) be picking the flowers off and not getting any yummy berries?

[msflocks]

a few flowers on mine too, may have to see auntie jackie about some more

[Madasafish]

A few flowers. ours come into fruit for Wimbledon - and then the mice come...

Anyone got a cure for field mice? Anything that is not involving a minefield :-)

[Mchanen]

I've got a few flowers too- which i'm pretty please about no strawbs yet though.

Need to make a frame soon to put a net over them- we have a wood pigeon couple that come into our garden- haven't been a nuisance but certainly don't want them taking a liking to my strawbs

[bobleponge]

Well I dont know what my strawbs have been doing, but its clearly something quite naughty as they are all starting to blush. They live outdoors on the back of the garage wall (which is painted white). I have 2 different varieties in a bed there, and the Gento Nova have had fruit on them for about 3 weeks, and as of yesterday evening started their mischevious behaviour.
Even in a tunnel I'm impressed with stawbs already in Easter Ross.

[sewer rat]

No heating in the tunnel and I picked my first full punnet today !! Gave it to one of my favourite customers as a surprise bonus in her veg box

[fran]

Hi there. I read recently that you don't need to pick off the first flowers on modern varieties. I was given some plants from a friend - don't know which variety, and like you I couldn't bring myself to pick them off. I'm glad I didn't cos I've now got lots of little baby strawbs!

Good luck,
Fran