Advice on which strawberry variety to choose

[IndigoElectron]

I'm going to take advantage of the free p&p at Mr Fothergill's this weekend and buy myself some strawberry plants. Problem is, I have no idea which to choose, they all sound so good!

I want an everbearing variety so that narrows it down a bit. Anyone have any recommendations from the following?

Strawberry (Everbearing Variety) Albion|Mr Fothergill's Fruit
Strawberry (Everbearing Variety) Gariguette|Mr Fothergill's Fruit
Strawberry (Everbearing Variety) Mara des Bois|Mr Fothergill's Fruit
Strawberry (Everbearing Variety) Buddy|Mr Fothergill's Fruit

I like a sweet strawberry if that helps. And I'm a new gardener, so something easy to grow and resistant to diseases would be useful too.

Thanks!

[datz]

I have both Gariguette and Mara des Bois. Very popular varieties here in France. The first is a very early cropper but finishes mid summer. The Mara des Bois were giving us fruit from June until the first frosts came here in early October. Both varieties very tasty, recommended.

[WendyC]

I have Gariguette, it is a lovely strawberry but wouldn't describe it as a perpetual type, definitely an early one. I gave up on the perpetuals as because I didn't have many plants there was never enough for the four of us to have at any one time.

Just checked Ken Muir's website - Gariguette is listed as an early variety not perpetual. Others are listed as perpetuals.

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks both, I will give the Gariguette a miss then. Not sure why it was listed as an everbearer.

Wendy, when you say there wasn't enough fruit for all of you, I'm not sure how that would happen, if they fruit continually? I thought the idea of the everbearers was that they would give fruit for several months, but maybe I misunderstood. What did you have as an alternative?

[Nicos]

I have Gariguette ...don't just dismiss them!
they are the sweetest ( as in nonacidic) strawberries I have ever tasted
They are very expensive to buy here because they bruise easily when picked so don't keep well.BUT...their flavour/juice burst is more than worth it!

I also have Mara des Bois but the Gariguette are my favourite.

How much space do you have?
I'd be tempted to get a few varieties .

[WendyC]

There wasn't enough fruit because they produce a crop over months rather than weeks. So with a few plants, think I had a dozen, it was a case of whose turn it was for a bowlful.
Gariguette are very tasty.

[Alison]

I have some Mara des Bois, the fruits are very tasty but I much prefer the crops I get from my other plants as you get proper big bowlfuls for a few weeks rather than a small number every few days over a longer time. I still have about 15 of them though as it's nice to have a few for on top of my cereal in the mornings but I really wouldn't want to be without the huge bowls I get from my other varieties in June and July.

[IndigoElectron]

Hmm, you have all made me think now! We don't have too much space. I was planning on growing them in hanging baskets, am I right in thinking I can only put one plant in each basket? They are 14 inch diameter. The plants come in packs of 5 runners and I only have 2 baskets, so that still leaves me with 3 runners and nowhere to put them! I do have space for some pots and troughs though. Does anyone have any advice on growing the maximum number of plants in a small space? Thanks.

[IndigoElectron]

Hang on, I think I may have found what I am looking for:

Wilko Grow Bag Strawberry Green 41ltr at wilko.com
Gardman Pop-up Strawberry Planter

Is this sort of thing any good? And can I really get 9 or 10 plants in as it says?

Thanks!

[Bigmallly]

The problem with strawberry planters is that you have to keep turning them unless you don't plant in one side of them.

[rustylady]

I would think you could get 3 strawberry plants in a 14" hanging basket. You will need to pay attention to watering though.

[IndigoElectron]

Turning the planter wouldn't be a problem Bigmally, but thanks for pointing it out.

Thanks Rustylady, the baskets are self-watering, which will help.

I just ordered the strawberries - after realising I could fit more in our garden than I originally thought, I decided to get 3 varieties (Albion, Buddy and Mara des Bois). But you all made the Gariguette sound so tasty that I couldn't resist and 'accidentally' ordered those too