Fragaria x ananassa 'Elan'

Strawberries are incredibly easy to grow, and are well worth the extra effort for their sweet, juicy fruits, which far exceed the flavour of shop-bought varieties. Hardy strawberries thrive in full sun in moisture-retentive soil, and propagate themselves by producing runners, from which new plants grow.

An ever-bearing variety, Fragaria x ananassa 'Elan' produces medium-sized, juicy fruits with a good sweet flavour, from July to October. Place straw under immature fruits to reduce the chances of slugs eating them, and replace plants every three years, as they gradually produce less fruit with age.