Strawberry Ostara | 9cm Pot

Not quite a climbing strawberry, but almost. Position: full sun Soil: any soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Hardiness: fully hardy Produces runners up to 1m long which can be tied onto a sturdy cane, wigwam or trellis enabling the fruit to be kept off the ground and away from certain pests like slugs and snails, ‘Mount Everest’ is a mid-season strawberry that produces sweet, juicy fruits over a long period from mid-June right the way into September. A fast and strong growing plant, this tasty variety will be equally dramatic spilling from windowboxes and hanging baskets. Garden care: Prepare the ground well before planting. Clear all the weeds and dig in lots of well-rotted manure. When planting out, space the plants at 45cm intervals with 75cm between each row and apply a generous layer of mulch around the base of the plants, being careful to avoid the crown. If training onto a support, tie them in as they start to grow and keep the runners off the ground. If you want to grow them in the more conventional way and let them trail along the ground, then put a thick layer of straw or use strawberry mats under the plants to stop the fruit touching the soil when they are starting to form. Sheets of black plastic mulch can also be used, and it will also help retain soil moisture, reduce weeds and encourage early cropping.