Too many strawberries!

[Mrs Moustoir]

We're having our best year ever for strawberries - we're strawberry'd out! I never thought I would say it but , we've had enough of them. The kids look at me in horror when I suggest strawberries for pud again. I made strawberry jam yesterday and gave away about a kilo of berries to my neighbours. And there are more to pick for the weekend.

It is the school kermesse (summer fete) on Sunday and I'll make a strawberry pavlova with a strawberry sauce as my contribution to the feast.

I planted 16 plants last year through weed suppressing membrane and they have just gone mad. I fed them in early spring which I was told was a big mistake as it just increases the leaf growth. It seems to have increased berry growth too. The tastiest ones are some teeny alpine strawberries that I bought over from the UK - not quite so much fruit but they are so sweet. I've got some runners from them to pot up for some French friends.

One advantage is that the house smells of strawberries - a gorgeous summery whiff!

[Millymollymandy]

bleugh I've just eaten (another) bowlful of them and feel sick now! Do you grow Gariguette as they are the ones that I've found that do best (being a Breton variety). I haven't yet found a decent remontant variety though.

[Mrs Moustoir]

I think I have one or two Gariguette plants which were given to me by a friend. Are they a slightly elongated shape? Nice flavour - so I'll pot up some of those runners too.

Don't know what variety the rest are though.

Next will be the courgette and runner bean glut!

[Millymollymandy]

Yes they are the elongated ones, but they are really early so worthwhile. Compared to my other ones they stay nice and firm too. I have some (Gento) which are going to be compost this autumn which are quite soft and mushy as soon as you pick them and the fruit are often mishapen too. Bought a new variety whose name I've forgotten which is all mishapen too - I didn't even bother to net those and let the birds have them!

[Muscroj]

well I've got lots of strawberrys coming, but still not anwhere near ripe yet. I will have tons of raspberrys very soon though As for runner beans I think I'll be a very long way from having a glut, I have one sickly looking plant & everytime it puts a flower out Mr Slug comes in the night & eats it!!Oh how I wish they made organic slug pellets that actually worked!!

[Millymollymandy]

I finally got round to making a milky pud (tapioca) just so that I could have my strawberries in syrup on it. It was to die for! I could use it as jam as well although I'd get rather sticky fingers.

My most recent strawb acquisition is a variety called 'Rabunda' which are very strange because the flesh inside is white! Looks odd if cut in half but tastes like it ought to!

[ina]

It's just been too wet here - I've only had one strawberry (well, ok, I only have one plant, too!), but my friend, who has a lot in her garden, says they are rotting away before they get ripe.