STRAWBERRY

The strawberry, the most popular and common of the berries in temperate countries, is quite an easy small plant to grow. It has a creeping habit, producing creeping stems or runners on the ground. It is slow growing, forming mounds up to 15-20 cm high. The flowers are white with gold colored centers from which berries are formed. The fruit is a compound one made up of tiny fruitless. It is green at first, turning to bright shiny red as it ripens. It is delightfully scented and is eaten fresh or made into jam. In the highlands, strawberries are useful for the home garden; they need little space and fruit continuously. New plants can be propagated from the mother plant by cutting off from the rooted runners. They grow well in well-drained soil.