Ah the humble strawberry! Pick up a punnet of strawberries from the supermarket and you will have an instant bowl of super-sized, plump, scarlet fruits. They may look pretty on the plate, but they can be a little disappointing on the palate and I find that I have to dress them up in all sorts to bring out their strawberryness. You can adorn them with a splash of lemon juice or balsamic vinegar and a sprinkling of vanilla sugar, or (like slipping on that little black dress) you can really add some excitement with a little black pepper (I may be Potty but believe me, it works!) However if you want strawberries that taste good naked (the strawberries, not you) then growing your own is the answer. I have known strawberries grown in rows, rounds, pots, baskets and guttering, but I am of course growing mine in planters. You can fit a whole row's worth of strawberry plants into one planter- 4 in the middle and 1 in each of the eight side pockets. With no threat of weeds and a prime location in the sun my humble strawberry planter is coming on a treat. With the fruits raised off the ground the berries won't rot, but I must still be on my guard for strawberry pick pockets. Slugs, birds and worst of all greedy children will need to be kept at bay!

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I have known strawberries grown in rows, rounds, pots, baskets and guttering, but I am of course growing mine in planters. You can fit a whole row's worth of strawberry plants into one planter- 4 in the middle and 1 in each of the eight side pockets. With no threat of weeds and a prime location in the sun my humble strawberry planter is coming on a treat. With the fruits raised off the ground the berries won't rot, but I must still be on my guard for strawberry pick pockets. Slugs, birds and worst of all greedy children will need to be kept at bay!