Strawberries

Strawberries were first cultivated as far back as 200BC by the Romans.

Then, they were widely regarded as an aphrodisiac. They were first

sold in straw baskets in the 16th Century, thus making them one of the

first packaged fruit to be sold.

The strawberry is widely known for its fragrant aroma and stunning

colour. It is also the only fruit that has seeds on the outside.

The picking season for field grown strawberries in Britain spreads

across a four month period from June through until late September,

depending on the weather!

There are many varieties of strawberry, at Q Gardens we grow

about eight different varieties that become available in succession through the season.  

Our varieties include Sonata, Christina, Florence, Daisy, Amelia, Judibell, Darlisette and Elsanta.

We often hear that customers do not like the variety Elsanta - they may have been disappointed by 'supermarket strawberries' that can be of variable quality.  We think that a properly grown Elsanta - outdoors in the sunshine and soil - can be one of the most delicious varieties.

Strawberries have many other uses as well as the English tradition to simply eat them with a little bit of cream whilst watching some tennis. They can be used to create a lovely flavoured ice cream or to make jams and preserves.  No-one can resist fresh strawberries on a pavlova!

See the BBC Strawberry recipe page for loads of different suggestions of how to serve this delicious fruit.   And click here for an interesting article on the develoment of the strawberry as a commercial fruit, and its cultivation

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