Strawberry Cupido F1 plugs - Fragaria ananassa

The 'Cupido' F1 trailing strawberry is a perpetual hybrid variety, producing beautiful conical red fruits of excellent taste quality. This trailing variety is particularly suitable for pot or hanging basket cultivation. There are many ways to enjoy these sweet delights, whether eaten fresh, blended into a coulis, or placed in a tart. The plug plants should be planted in autumn for a harvest the following year from June to October.

It is a perennial belonging to the Rosaceae family. The wild strawberry or woodland strawberry, present in Roman times and the Middle Ages, was crossed in the 18th century with a species brought back from Chile. Through successive selections, this gave rise to different varieties with large fruits.

Today, three categories of varieties are distinguished:

- Wild strawberries that bear small fruits from June to October

- Non-perpetual varieties with large fruits. They bloom once a year in spring, producing large fruits around June

- Perpetual varieties with large fruits. They bloom twice a year or continuously, producing large fruits from June to October

Strawberries have a spreading habit, sometimes climbing or trailing, with evergreen trifoliate, ovate, and dentate leaves. Depending on the varieties, it bears small white, yellow, or pink flowers with a golden centre that transform into fruits. They are usually red, but sometimes pink, yellow, or white. Botanically speaking, strawberries are considered pseudocarps, with the achenes (seeds) protruding from the epidermis.

Strawberries can be consumed in multiple ways: they can be eaten fresh with sugar and cream, or thinly sliced and dried before being incorporated into muesli or yogurt. If you have a bountiful harvest, consider making jams, coulis, pies, ice creams, or sorbets. You can also freeze strawberries.

Strawberries are rich in vitamins and minerals. They can cause urticating effects for some individuals as they stimulate the release of histamine in the body.

Harvesting: pick the fruits as they ripen, every 2 or 3 days, ideally in the morning. Strawberries are delicate, so pick them with their calyx by pinching the stem 1 to 2cm (1in) above it. The texture of the fruit is a good indicator of its ripeness: it should be firm and slightly soft to the touch.

Storage: ideally, strawberries should be consumed quickly after harvesting to fully enjoy their flavour. Refrigeration is possible, but may alter the taste qualities of the fruits. Strawberries can also be dried or frozen. If you have a bountiful harvest, consider making jams, coulis, ice creams, or sorbets.

Gardener's tip: strawberry plants are good companions for garlic, beans, lettuce, onions, leeks, thyme, and spinach. However, they do not appreciate the company of cabbage and other brassicas.