There are three main types of strawberry to choose from: alpine (wild strawberries), summer-fruiting, or perpetual-fruiting strawberry varieties. Almost all new plants will benefit from rootgrow™ but there are a few exceptions: blueberries, cranberries, lingonberries, rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers & brassicas. It should be noted that using rootgrow™ on these plants will not harm them - it just won’t work. In poor soils, some extra fertiliser during the growing season may be beneficial, use a liquid fertiliser at this stage for better uptake. Don’t forget to sign up for our monthly The English Gardener newsletter, bringing you all the grow your own advice you need throughout the year. Sign up on the right.

Please note, we cannot guarantee delivery on a certain day or time. Delivery to outlying postcode areas may take 1-2 days longer, dependent on your location. These will bear fruit the following year.For other maintenance, all you really need to do is keep the berry bed weeded.Just remember, the more flowers, the more berries, but they will be smaller. The fewer flowers, the fewer berries, but they will be definitely be large strawberries. It's also worth netting your strawberries before they turn red to protect them from hungry birds. If you’re growing strawberries in rows, a net tunnel is easy to install. It might also be worth investing in a fruit cage, especially if you’re also growing currants.

Strawberries should be planted out as soon as possible - only plant outdoors once all risk of frost has gone. The Ilan variety of strawberry was originally bred by Dr. Nir Dai, a researcher from the Israel's Agricultural Research Organization ( ARO), at the ARO Volcani Center in Bet-Dagan, near Tel-Aviv.

Which strawberry should I grow?

RED GAUNTLET STRAWBERRY probably the the most popular strawberry plant for the home garden in Australia because it produces a good crop in its first year. Large sweet fruit for up to three years, after this remove the plants and replace with new ‘certified runners’. Certified runners are ‘virus free’ and prevent a lot of problems when growing strawberries. After the plants have settled in, you will find them starting to grow runners.You will be able to tell a runner because the mother plant sends out a long stem and starts new roots and leaves. If you want just a few plants but huge berries, snip these runners off! Yes, every single one of them. These Felco hand pruners are perfect for making clean cuts. When you want to have new plants for putting in the ground, always take rooted runners off your youngest mother plants.