Have you ever popped a tiny red strawberry into your mouth on a hot summer's day? It is sure to spoil any store bought strawberry for you forever. Great as healthy snacks for children, strawberries are easy to grow in the garden or in pots and will fruit continually throughout spring and summer.

Growing instructions

Plant in full sun and high on mounded soil to help soil drainage. Keep overhead watering to a minimum to prevent fungal problems; water around roots only and set out beer traps for snails. Keep foliage off the ground with a thick layer of straw, then feed with a liquid fertiliser fortnightly. Protect from birds with bird netting over the plants.

In the kitchen

Pick strawberries with the stem intact in spring. Pick them as they begin to turn soft, and remember that they won't grow as large as store bought fruit. Strawberries are a great match when served with cream or ice-cream, in smoothies, and mixed with yoghurt for dessert.

Strawberry tips

• Alpine strawberries, unlike most strawberries, don't put out runners and do grow from seed. Some alpine strawberries stay white, making them difficult to be seen by birds; others turn red or yellow.
• Feed after fruiting with complete fertiliser.
• Don't plant strawberries near where potatoes have grown.
• Nine plants are enough for a family of four.
• Those wanting large fruit should choose the giant Japanese strawberries, but you'll need to buy the plants, as you can't grow them from seed.

This information kindly provided by the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia.