In fact, before we know it, it'll be summer again and if you want to enjoy the home-grown version of this mouth-watering dessert, now's the time to get planting.
The thing I like about strawberries is, not only do they taste good, they're super easy to grow. Of course you can plant them in your everyday garden bed or a planter box. But if you want to do something a little different, why not pop them in a hanging basket or an old wine barrel? The plant's green foliage, white flowers and red berries will look great on your deck or patio. Just make sure they're in a sunny and a well-drained spot.
Wherever you decide to plant these red delights, you'll first need to get hold of our 'bare rooted' strawberry seedlings (which means we dig them up for you and shake the soil off the roots). Simply pop down to your local supermarket, The Warehouse or Bunnings and pick some up. Or, better still, head to our online store and get them delivered direct to your door. Each bundle has around four plants which should produce between 60 to 100 strawberries. It may sound like a lot but I'll bet you'll get through them in no time, so don't be shy when ordering.
To get started, prepare the soil by digging in a general fertiliser that's rich in potassium. This will help stimulate plant growth and produce large, juicy fruit. Choose a spot around the edges of your garden to encourage the strawberries to hang over the sides and prevent your fruit from touching the ground and rotting.
Dig a hole about 10cm deep and place your seedling inside. You'll need to make sure it's a deep hole to give the roots plenty of room to spread out and grow...but be careful not to bury the plant. Pack the soil firmly around each seedling and surround it with peastraw or newspaper to help keep away weeds and encourage fruiting on top. Plant your seedlings in a long row and, once they begin to fruit, place netting or wire over them. This will block out birds and ensure you get to eat the strawberries yourself!
Planting in a pot? Easy! As above, plant around the sides and ensure you use a top quality potting mix. For an extra boost of goodness apply a liquid fertiliser to the mix.
In spring, add another dose of general fertiliser to your strawberries to encourage sturdier plants that are more disease resistant heading in to the warmer months. And make sure you give them plenty of water.
If you're using hanging baskets, it's best to pull out your strawberries and plant new ones after a year to freshen up the soil (don't forget to use new potting mix).
But if they're in your garden, your strawberry patch will last a couple of years. After this you can simply use your runners to create a new patch - now that's what I call a sweet investment.