Strawberries

I'd like to plant some strawberries but am not impressed by the taste of shop-bought. Can anyone recommend some tasty varieties and/or let me know where I can buy some?

Many thanks

 

As a long time Cambs resident I have always grown some Cambridge Favourite. These are a favourite of the 'pick-your-own' growers as well, and have the advantage of being readily available in Garden Centres in the spring. You could also try some of the 'perpetual' ones in a hanging basket, and I have some lovely Alpine ones which are bigger than average with a lovely flavour.
This RHS report gives lots of info. on various varieties and where to buy, but it is PDF file so a bit slow to load and also dated 2002.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/documents/StrawberryEarlyMidSeason.pdf
Flavour is always subjective, if you find a variety you like, make a note of it!.

 

We went to a do in our local pub and a guy had supplied strawberrys from his lotty. I tasted one and said to my wife, "now I remember why I like strawberrys so much".

The flavourless pap they sell in the shops these days had made me forget how good they are. This year I bought 6 Cambridge Favourite plants and we had a meal or two from them, but today I took the runners and planted 36 in a tower. Now I'm really looking forward to next June.

 

I have made a point of only buying UK raised strawberries this year and they have been very good.
I shan't purchase any more now the season is over, as I have noticed they are being imported again and now have no flavour. If we all boycott the tasteles winter ones perhaps they'll get the message and stop stocking, them with all the non-green problems attendant in this unnecessary type of import.

 

Thanks for the replies - any idea where I can buy some online as I haven't seen any in the local garden centres.

 

Hi Linlin, I ordered some cambridge favourite from here: http://www.fothergills.co.uk/en/strawberry-cambridge-favourite-12436.aspx
Best price I have found on the internet.

Being from Cambridge I had to go for Cambridge favourite

 

Hi linlin and all, I grow strawberries on my little nursery and sell some of them. I grow a variety called Flamenco, perpetual fruiting, so i get a small crop in june, then again in july until first frosts. Infact we had the last of the fresh strawberries from the plot last night. They have a sumptuous flavour and grow to a very good size. And no matter how late in the season, the flavour is wonderful.