Strawberry Ostara

A ‘perpetual’ or ‘ever-bearing’ strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa Ostara produces white flowers and fruit in flushes from June until the frosts, instead of the one big crop of the summer-bearing strawberries. The berries are large, conical and bright red, red-fleshed with a sweet, juicy flavour and good fragrance, and total yields are high. Strawberry Ostara has a compact, slightly open habit which displays the fruit well among the mid-green, typical strawberry leaves. Peg down runners, one per plant, as they appear, discarding the rest lest you exhaust the plant; leave attached to the ‘mother’ plant until September, when they can be lifted and replanted in a new bed, or potted up in a greenhouse or polytunnel for an earlier crop next year. Each plant will produce well for about three years.

Site: Warm, sheltered, sunny site
Soil: Any fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Position: Full sun
Pick: As soon as the berries are ripe
Keep: Fruit does not keep, and does not freeze well – enjoy them as they come!
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Pollination: Self-fertile
Uses: Eating fresh, preserves, decorating cakes

Strawberry Ostara is a great addition to your garden. Plant it in a warm, sunny spot with fertile, well-drained soil. When runners come out, peg one down per plant and remove the others. Keep the runner attached to the mother plant until September, then you can either replant it in a new bed or pot it up in a greenhouse for an earlier crop next year. Pick the ripe berries right away as they don’t keep or freeze well. Use them fresh, in preserves, or for cake decoration. Each plant will do well for about three years.