5 hours Ago By Angela Patrone
Strawberries are among the most popular fruits you can grow in spring and summer . They typically take three to six months to mature from bare-root plants to delicious fruits . However, gardening expert James Oakey at Mr Fothergill’s claimed that the process can be sped up to 60 days.
Growing strawberries in 60 days involves taking bare-root strawberry plants that have been given a “false winter” in cold storage and planting them out in warmer weather for them to “grow faster” for a “speedy summer harvest”. Once planted in June, they’ll typically fruit within just two months, giving you a “deliciously fresh crop of strawberries” outside of their normal fruiting season. If left in the garden, next year, the strawberries will fruit in their normal fruiting season, from late May to early July.
For this process, gardeners need to start with the “right plants” — bare-root strawberry plants. This may sound like an unusual thing to do, but when the plants arrive, take them out of the box and gently tuck the roots into a plastic bag filled with moist (not soggy) compost. Seal the bag loosely with an elastic band to keep moisture in and place it in the salad drawer of your fridge.
Keep the roots between zero and four degrees. Check in regularly to make sure the roots aren’t drying out, rotting, or showing too much early growth. Once June arrives and the weather warms, it’s time to plant.
Choose a sunny spot in your garden or large containers on the patio. Prepare the soil by removing weeds, breaking up clumps, and adding fertiliser to boost growth. Space your plants 30 to 45cm apart, making sure the crown (where the leaves emerge) sits just below the surface.
Five plants in a 30cm pot filled with top-quality compost work well for containers. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged and constantly water the base of the plant, not the leaves or fruit, to avoid rot. Protect the plants naturally with things like straw, crushed eggshells, or an organic slug repellent to keep fruit safe from slugs and birds.
Shield plants from birds using netting or even an old net curtain supported on garden canes - make sure there are no gaps for sneaky visitors. Your plants should flower in four to five weeks. Once pollinated, “those blooms will transform into juicier and sweeter strawberries” ready for picking when they’re bright red all over.
Harvest daily, little and often, for “best results”..
