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Strawberry plants. Best flavour?

(17 Posts)
shysal Mon 21-Mar-16 11:05:46

I have decided to replace my plants this year as they have not been productive recently and the taste is poor. I have had the same ones for years, planting out runners as the main plants get old.
Can you please recommend your favourite strawberry varieties?

Mamie Mon 21-Mar-16 11:09:47

How funny, I am just in the middle of doing the same thing. I am in France so may not be much help, but I have put in 8 Gariguette, which are a fabulous flavour and 8 Anaïs which you don't get in the shops because the fruit is quite fragile. You can get both in the UK I think. I need a third variety so looking forward to hearing suggestions.

Lavande Mon 21-Mar-16 14:02:15

I am experimenting with new varieties this year too. For several years, we enjoyed the strawberries grown from seed, Sarian F1. These were full of flavour and vigorous plants. Makes a fabulous conserve.

Last year, planted Four Seasons also grown from seed because that was the only variety left in the garden centre. No idea what they will be like.

The plants I would like to try this year are Mara des Bois, which seem to consistently feature in reviews as sweet and full of flavour and the chef's favourite.

Gariguette strawberries were being given to customers to taste at our local supermarket last year and they were delicious. So, they would be on my list too.

Roll on summer.

shysal Mon 21-Mar-16 14:15:27

Coincidentally I received a Sutton's catalogue this morning. There is a collection of 4 different strawberry plants for continuity, 6 each of Flamenco,Elegance,Sweetheart and Malwina. I thought I would order a set, but found they were out of stock, as were most individual varieties. I did, however manage to order some Mara des Bois (thanks Lavande), which have a cropping period of May-September, and Sweetheart, voted best flavour by Which magazine. I need more, so ideas still welcome.

rosesarered Mon 21-Mar-16 14:52:43

Me too Shysal need to be ones that do well in Oxfordshire though, not France.Hope there will be more replies.

Mamie Mon 21-Mar-16 14:55:50

We are only 60 miles from England. Gariguette do well in England; friends of ours took them back to grow in Yorkshire. grin

Lavande Mon 21-Mar-16 17:47:30

rosesarered all the varieties I have mentioned can be grown in the UK or France. Besides which, the climate is similar in the part of France that I now live to Norfolk where I moved from.

Lavande Mon 21-Mar-16 18:51:44

Forgot to mention that all these varieties can be bought in the UK. What matters is the condition of the soil - slightly acid, with well rotted organic matter forked in several weeks ahead of planting.

Synonymous Mon 21-Mar-16 19:50:04

Years ago we had Symphony and Rhapsody and they were lovely but I still think that the best flavour of all time has to be Royal Sovereign although they have such a short season.

We are currently on the look out for a good daylight neutral strawberry with long fruiting and good flavour.

rosesarered Mon 21-Mar-16 20:55:11

what is the smallest and sweetest type?

shysal Tue 22-Mar-16 09:18:59

I made some choices from here . There is extra info to read on each one, although I found many were out of stock.

rosesarered Tue 22-Mar-16 09:43:04

Thanks! smile

Maranta Tue 22-Mar-16 09:56:06

They were talking about strawberries on the last Gardeners Question Time and James Wong was recommending people also grew Alpine strawberries. They don't send out runners, last forever, grow in shade (I think?) and taste lovely. I grow about 3 plants in a trough just outside by back door, great for having on cereal or porridge in the morning. This winter I even had a small handful on Christmas Day!

rosesarered Tue 22-Mar-16 14:32:33

That sounds worth trying maranta

Alishka Thu 24-Mar-16 20:33:49

I missed GQT but I'm pleased to read Alpine strawberries get a mention. I love them and have grown them for years. A handful of these have kept me happily grazing when I've been digging and they really do go on for years. Tiny ruby red packages of lusciousness smile

whitewave Thu 24-Mar-16 20:49:29

Victoria is an heritage strawberry and supposed to be the way a strawberry should taste. The downside is that it doesn't resist disease well and isn't the biggest producer. My Grandad used to grow it.

Claudi Mon 05-Apr-21 15:02:46

I love to grow honeyhoe they have been the most reliable variety for me when grown in strawberry pots or planters

like you rosesarered, I also love the taste of maranta another great variety of strawberry