Kitchen Garden Forum

Can anyone recommend a woodland strawberry to grow please - big on taste, of course!

I don't know your defenition of a 'woodland' strawberry. Strawberries are all woodland plants and ours have made themselves at home in of all places the bottom of a privet hedge where they are thriving with no attention from us. Among those I have is one called Mara de Bois, translated the 'de bois' means of the woodland, I think Mara must be a persons name. It's a perpetual one, been around quite some time, obviously French origin. For flavour Cambridge Late Pine is hard to better. I am trying another new one from Dobies, supposed to be exceptional flavour but the skins are delicate so it will never become commercial. Dobies website for details.
We had an alpine strawberry for many years, eventually it went mad and runnered everywhere with no fruit so we had to scrap it.
Allan

I planted some seeds a couple of years ago 'Alexandria' and they have been great, still fruiting well and they do not produce runners, you can divide the plant up. I think you can also get golden alexandria with lime green leaves. Mine came from somewhere called nickys nursery, sure you can find it online if you google.

Mandy

I have wild strawberries growing everywhere and can bring some to Malvern if you want them. I don't know what they are as I inherited them but I think they may be an Alpine variety. Very small, delicious fruit.

And the answer is...........a resounding yes! I'm beginning to feel like a charity case. More food anyone?....?......?

You have got it all backwards, you are saving your fellow gardeners from the brutal reality of killing the excess plants they have grown

Thanks Mandy,

I was looking at my Alpine strawberries the other day and was wondering why some were looking pathetically yellow, whereas others were healthy green. I decided that a fertiliser boost was needed.

However, your post has reminded me that I grew both Alexandria and Golden Alexandria, which obviously explains the difference in colour.

Mine are now flowering, but I doubt if I'll get any before the children get to them!