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The Independent
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Eight expert tips for growing a bumper strawberry crop this summer
British strawberries are off to an exceptional start this season, buoyed by ideal growing conditions, according to British Berry Growers. The combination of warm days, cool nights, and record-breaking sunshine has led to one of the most bountiful early harvests in recent years. While the Wimbledon Tennis Championships traditionally herald the peak of strawberry season, with approximately 200,000 portions of strawberries and cream enjoyed by attendees, there's a unique pleasure in savouring home-grown strawberries picked fresh. Fortunately, growing your own strawberries isn't too tricky – even for beginners. The weather makes a difference 'The weather has been very kind to all growers,' says Jim Floor, managing director of berry growers Hall Hunter. 'We had a very cold February and March, then from April onwards it's been sunny – and strawberries love sunshine. 'The nights have been quite cool and the perfect environment for strawberries is 20 degree days and 10 degree nights.' Plenty of bees help If you have a garden with plenty of plants which attract pollinators, such as open-flowered geum, iberis, cranesbill geraniums, lavender and heathers, you're likely to get better crops because the bees will pollinate the strawberry flowers. For the biggest harvests… You'll need plenty of space for a strawberry patch if you want a huge crop, and will need to plant numerous plants. Alternatively, you can grow strawberries in pots but because of the limited number of plants you can accommodate, your yield may be limited. Many types produce new runners after flowering, which create new plantlets on their own. You can also plant different varieties of strawberries to extend the season – summer-fruiting types, perpetual strawberries which produce a smaller quantity of fruit from summer until autumn, and Alpine, or wild, strawberries, which bear small crops of tiny berries spasmodically during summer. Plug plants are a good bet and are available in garden centres and nurseries from late spring onwards, or alternatively you can buy bare-root plants, known as runners, which look like root clumps, in late summer or early autumn, and again in spring. Plant in full sun or in polytunnels where they will be warm and won't become damp, or if outside a raised bed or grow bag is a good option, Floor suggests. 'I grow them in a hanging basket (at home) because they tend to do much better if they're not (at ground level) in the soil, where there are lots of pests and diseases.' During the growing season, make sure they are fed and watered regularly. 'I would recommend a balanced multi-purpose liquid feed. 'If you want sweeter strawberries you might want to put more potassium in, but you need to be careful because any overfeeding of potassium, calcium or nitrogen could give you a problem. ' Calcium can burn the leaves, potassium could potentially kill the plants and (overfeeding with) nitrogen, you will get 100% leaves and no fruit. Possible problems Slugs are a threat, he warns. 'Last year because of the mild winter and the wet year the problem was slugs, particularly if you were growing strawberries in the ground. 'This year it's been about keeping everything irrigated. As long as the plants have plenty of water, they will do well.' Birds may also feast on the fruits, so it would be wise to cover your strawberries with netting if you need to keep them at bay. As the fruits emerge, place straw underneath them so the fruits don't brush against the ground and rot. When are they ready to pick? When they are evenly red, he says. 'They don't necessarily come off the stem quite easily. If the fruit comes off easily it may be over-ripe.' After fruiting 'De-leaf the plants a little bit, getting rid of the debris and dead leaves, and there's no reason why they couldn't be kept for another year,' he suggests. Good varieties Strawberries which have received the RHS Award of Garden Merit include 'Hapil', which produces large red fruits and is lauded for its vigorous growth and is well-suited to light or drier soils and to containers; and the late season 'Florence' which has 'exceptional disease resistance' and whose large dark red fruits are produced in mid-July.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Expert tips on growing the most strawberries you can this summer
British strawberries are enjoying a stellar start to the season, with growers reporting one of the best early harvests in recent memory. Warm days, cool nights and record-breaking sunshine levels have combined to create perfect growing conditions, according to British Berry Growers. The Wimbledon Tennis Championships traditionally mark peak strawberry season, with around 200,000 portions of strawberries and cream consumed during the tournament. However, there's nothing quite like the taste of home-grown strawberries picked fresh, and they aren't difficult to grow for yourself. The weather makes a difference 'The weather has been very kind to all growers,' says Jim Floor, managing director of berry growers Hall Hunter. 'We had a very cold February and March, then from April onwards it's been sunny – and strawberries love sunshine. 'The nights have been quite cool and the perfect environment for strawberries is 20 degree days and 10 degree nights.' Plenty of bees help If you have a garden with plenty of plants which attract pollinators, such as open-flowered geum, iberis, cranesbill geraniums, lavender and heathers, you're likely to get better crops because the bees will pollinate the strawberry flowers. For the biggest harvests… You'll need plenty of space for a strawberry patch if you want a huge crop, and will need to plant numerous plants. Alternatively, you can grow strawberries in pots but because of the limited number of plants you can accommodate, your yield may be limited. Many types produce new runners after flowering, which create new plantlets on their own. You can also plant different varieties of strawberries to extend the season – summer-fruiting types, perpetual strawberries which produce a smaller quantity of fruit from summer until autumn, and Alpine, or wild, strawberries, which bear small crops of tiny berries spasmodically during summer. Plug plants are a good bet and are available in garden centres and nurseries from late spring onwards, or alternatively you can buy bare-root plants, known as runners, which look like root clumps, in late summer or early autumn, and again in spring. Plant in full sun or in polytunnels where they will be warm and won't become damp, or if outside a raised bed or grow bag is a good option, Floor suggests. 'I grow them in a hanging basket (at home) because they tend to do much better if they're not (at ground level) in the soil, where there are lots of pests and diseases.' During the growing season, make sure they are fed and watered regularly. 'I would recommend a balanced multi-purpose liquid feed. 'If you want sweeter strawberries you might want to put more potassium in, but you need to be careful because any overfeeding of potassium, calcium or nitrogen could give you a problem. ' Calcium can burn the leaves, potassium could potentially kill the plants and (overfeeding with) nitrogen, you will get 100% leaves and no fruit. Possible problems Slugs are a threat, he warns. 'Last year because of the mild winter and the wet year the problem was slugs, particularly if you were growing strawberries in the ground. 'This year it's been about keeping everything irrigated. As long as the plants have plenty of water, they will do well.' Birds may also feast on the fruits, so it would be wise to cover your strawberries with netting if you need to keep them at bay. As the fruits emerge, place straw underneath them so the fruits don't brush against the ground and rot. When are they ready to pick? When they are evenly red, he says. 'They don't necessarily come off the stem quite easily. If the fruit comes off easily it may be over-ripe.' After fruiting 'De-leaf the plants a little bit, getting rid of the debris and dead leaves, and there's no reason why they couldn't be kept for another year,' he suggests. Good varieties Strawberries which have received the RHS Award of Garden Merit include 'Hapil', which produces large red fruits and is lauded for its vigorous growth and is well-suited to light or drier soils and to containers; and the late season 'Florence' which has 'exceptional disease resistance' and whose large dark red fruits are produced in mid-July.
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Scotsman
How climate change is sending Scots a message about living more healthily
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... With the current warm spring coming hot on the heels of a dry, mild winter, it's hard to escape the sense that climate change has well and truly arrived in Scotland. Older generations who keep a weather eye on the, er, weather may have been particularly struck by temperatures of up to 25 degrees Celsius and endless days without rain. However, while it is a reminder of the importance of plotting a credible and sensible path to net-zero, we should not be so over-awed by our changing circumstances that we forget to enjoy what is, after all, nice weather. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Early season strawberries have proved to be sweeter and more shapely thanks to current dry, sunny spring (Picture: Julian Finney) | Getty Images And although some farmers and the whisky industry, in particular, have been hit by the lack of rain, for soft fruit growers, the weather has been cause for celebration. Early season strawberries 'are looking exceptional in both flavour and form', according to Nick Marston, of British Berry Growers.
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Expert explains why British strawberries will taste very different this summer
Strawberry lovers can expect to pick up an even more delicious punnet this season, with experts revealing that this springtime has provided the perfect conditions for the popular fragrant fruit to thrive Balmy summer days can be made all the more heavenly with a big bowl of fresh strawberries, and this year, we're in for a real treat. According to experts, British strawberries are all set to be "sweeter and more shapely" than ever this season, with the exceptional flavour profile of the 2025 yield benefiting from unusually high levels of sunshine, as well as heightened bee activity. This means your favourite fragrant fruit will be arriving on supermarket shelves packed with even more scrumptious flavour than usual. All you'll need is a refreshing scoop of ice cream, or indeed, a glass of Pimm's, depending on your mood. But why can we expect such a particularly moreish crop this year, and what goes into growing the perfect strawberry? British Berry Growers, the body representing 95 per cent of all berries grown and sold in the UK, says that warm days and cool nights have provided the ideal conditions for this quintessentially British fruit to thrive, with the Met Office recording the highest levels of sunshine in 100 years. This has sweetened the flavour profile of the berries, while increased pollination in March and April, due to thriving bee activity, means you can expect to plenty of classically shaped strawberries. According to growers, high light levels and mild weather in early spring mean the crop has also been brought forward by around seven days compared to previous years, resulting in punnets landing on shelves earlier than expected. Peter Judge, Group Managing Director at S&A Produce & Director at British Berry Growers, explained: "The start of the British strawberry season is always a highly anticipated time, and this year is no exception. The warmer, sunnier bursts interspersed with cooler snaps earlier in the year allowed the crop to develop slowly. This has supported the creation of strong root systems, which create a really strong engine for the plants to grow fantastic fruit with excellent levels of natural sugars. "One of the amazing things about our UK growers is the sheer variety of strawberries they produce. I'd encourage consumers to look out for the varieties on packs and try something new this year. There's so much choice now that there really is a strawberry for every palate." Meanwhile Jill Witheyman, Head of Marketing at Angus Soft Fruits, added: "A strong season like this is not just great for consumers, it's vital from a grower's business perspective too. High-quality fruit and consistent yields help us meet customer demand, maintain strong relationships with our buyers – the supermarkets - and reinforce our reputation for excellence. Healthy, thriving crops are also more efficient to manage and harvest, supporting both the sustainability and long-term growth of our farms.' And Amelia McLean, Director of Kent-based Hugh Lowe Farms, commented: "This year's weather has already produced berries that not only look fantastic but are also sweet and full of flavour. Given that we are at the front end of the season we're excited to see this trend continue to deliver premium berries to supermarket shelves this summer." Meanwhile, Nick Marston, Chairman of British Berry Growers, stated: ' This year's early season strawberries are looking exceptional in both flavour and form. The warm weather, high light levels, and active pollination have come together beautifully. We're expecting a strong yield and outstanding taste quality this season.'
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘We've never seen anything like it': Farmers astounded by strawberries hitting UK supermarkets this summer
Giant strawberries that 'cannot fit in your mouth' are set to hit UK supermarket shelves this summer, fruit farmers said. Summer Berry Company operations director Bartosz Pinkosz said strawberries grown at its farm in Colworth, West Sussex, were 20 per cent larger than normal due to unusual weather patterns. It comes after the Met Office said April was the UK's sunniest since records began in 1910, with a total of 228.9 sunshine hours. Mr Pinkosz said he had 'never seen anything like it'. 'We had the darkest January and February since the 70s, but then the brightest March and April since 1910. 'From March onwards, it was really kind of perfect for tunnel strawberries. The berries are between 10 per cent and 20 per cent larger,' he told The Guardian. Amelia McLean, director of Kent -based Hugh Lowe Farms, added: 'This year's weather has already produced berries that not only look fantastic but are also sweet and full of flavour.' Typically, strawberry season starts in May and peaks around June or July, but the recent sunny spells mean the British-grown fruit will be in supermarkets sooner. They take anywhere from six to 11 months until they are ready to pick, depending on whether they are grown in a glasshouse or tunnel. Strawberries are sweeter when days are bright and nights are cool, which allows the fruit to rest overnight and use more plentiful energy gained during the day to produce natural sugars. Nick Marston, chair of British Berry Growers, said: 'This year's early season strawberries are looking exceptional in both flavour and form. 'The warm weather, high light levels, and active pollination have come together beautifully. We're expecting a strong yield and outstanding taste quality this season.' Last year, The Summer Berry Company, together with another grower, Wicks Farm - both based in West Sussex - became the first UK growers to produce commercial quantities of strawberries all year long. They produced 38 tonnes of the fruit for the festive period, an increase of 40 per cent on the same period in 2023.
