Strawberry Advice

[dirtgirl]

My 4 year old's main request for our new allotment is "lots of strawberries please". So, I've been looking into different varieties, and my head is swimming. A few years ago I bought some plants at Lidl's, which we grew in pots in the garden, but accidently left behind when we moved They were lovely, gave enough fruit for the kids daily inspection of the pots to check if there were any ripe ones yet, plus a few for the rest of us, but I have no idea what variety they were
So, does this sound like a good range of varieties?
Gariguette
Cambridge Favourite or Cambridge Late Pine
Marshmello
Mara De Bois
I'm sure we'll add to these over time, but I am hoping for a good start, and also for a few strawberries for DD this year

[chris]

I've only heard of cambridge favourite out of them lot, but I'd just go with early, mid and late season fruiters! - That way you've a long(er) cropping period and won't have a huge glut

[dirtgirl]

Thanks, think that I covered early, mid and perpetual, hope that's right, not that a glut would ever be a problem here

[domart]

dirtgirl Aldi are tommorrow selling strawberry plants on special think £2.99 for 6 prehaps the same varities you had before?

[domart]

ALDI - Thursday Special Buys 24th March 2011

Heres the link and there doing veg plants (toms peppers and cabbage)
There is a variety you list above in one of them

[Bigmallly]

There are also These @ Lidl.

[dirtgirl]

dirtgirl Aldi are tommorrow selling strawberry plants on special think £2.99 for 6 prehaps the same varities you had before?

Thanks, at that price it's definately worth a trip for the Cambridge Favourites

There are also These @ Lidl.

Since we've moved we're not near a Lidl anymore, if only I knew which variety I'd bought there before, it would have been worth finding where the nearest one is

[chris]

dirtgirl - I might point out that the variety beginning with 'O' from lidl in my familes opinion were far suprior in flavour than to pegasus, which I believe is said to be one of the better tasters/croppers. Out of the 6 plants I bought, I had a a much heavier crop, just letting them get on with things, as opposed to the pegasus and some other variety!

[Qzy]

the variety beginning with 'O' from lidl

Lidl sold Ostara earlier in the year - I assume that is the variety

[purplekat]

Been and got some strawberries today from Aldi, they had Elsanta, Cambridge favourite and Honeoye

[Hillwalker]

A few years ago I bought some plants at Lidl's, which we grew in pots in the garden, but accidently left behind when we moved ..... I have no idea what variety they were.

So, does this sound like a good range of varieties?
Gariguette
Cambridge Favourite or Cambridge Late Pine
Marshmello
Mara De Bois

The Lidl varieties you bought were probably Ostara and/or Sena Sengana, both very good strawberries.

Your wish list is a good selection. I would choose the more flavoursome Cambridge Late Pine over Cambridge Favourite.

[jojo2910]

Mara de Bois are full sized strawbs but taste like wild ones (apparently). I've wanted them for a long time but have only ever found them on line. I've not bought any as we have about 40 plants as it is. Marshmello were, I think, voted best for taste by GW mag. I got some at my seed swap and will be trying those this year as well.

[TonyF]

Gariguette, Charlotte and Maras de Bois are the staples of the fraiseculture industry down here and they are always superb. We grow all three and the alpine/wild type (J has them for breakfast straight out the garden) and if you have a glut of any, they all make excellent jam.

[Hillwalker]

There are also These @ Lidl.

Just got back from Lidl after seeing Bigmally's above link. Returned with some healthy Korona strawberrys; a lovely tasting type with red colour running through to the centre. Also picked up several sets of slow self-discharge NiMh batteries (similar to Sanyo Enloop) at a very good price.

[dirtgirl]

Thanks everyone for your comments, it's lovely to hear from experiance rather than relying on advertising blurb
I have asked my Mum to pop to her local Lidl and get me some Ostara, just incase it is the one we remember, and as Aldi is selling the Cambridge Favourites for such a good price, I think I'll order the Late Pine too
Ken Muir does all of them except for Marshmello, which I can only see at Marshalls, does anyone know anywhere online that has Marshmello for a better price inc. P+P?