They thrive in moist but well-drained conditions, so use a soil-based compost with a deep layer of gravel or broken crocks in the base. Depending on the height you need, choose between our walk-in fruit cages, low fruit cages, strawberry cages or steel vegetable cages. The connectors, either build a balls or joiners are used to connect the 13mm crossbars, these then connect to the legs. Second, the plants gets caught up in the netting so when you go to harvest the berries, you will find yourself frustratingly fighting with the netting.

With summer-fruiting strawberries, once cropping has finished, cut off the old leaves about 10cm (4in) above the crown to allow fresh leaves to develop.

The glossy green foliage is easily sheared into a tiny hedge if you are looking to create a traditional knot garden. Thyme is well suited for containers because of its size and the fact that it demands perfect drainage.

When growing early strawberries under glass, be on the lookout for aphids, red spider mites, mildew and grey mould. Knowle Nets was started in 1965 at Knowle Farm Bridport Dorset - the home of net making since the 9th century. There are many different varieties of all three types, with variations in flavour, sweetness, fruit size and colour, disease-resistance, harvest time and even flower colour. Lemon balm, a member of the mint family, is a lovely mild herb named for the lemony scent of its leaves.

Replace plants every three or four years by planting fresh plants or propagating new plants from runners.

It is also more tolerant of hot weather than curly parsley (which can struggle during the peak of summer) and is frost tolerant.Wait until the berries are fully red all over before harvesting, as they do not continue to ripen once picked. There are a variety of ways to protect strawberry plants, as mentioned here in 14 Simple Ways to Protect Your Strawberry Plants From Birds. If using netting, keep it taut and well anchored around the bottom, to stop birds getting tangled in it. Putting straw around the fruit can keep them at bay, or you can try other organic pest control methods. Alternatively place biodegradable mulch mats around individual plants or plant through biodegradable membrane.

Although the oil from crushed leaves may have some ability to discourage mosquitoes, the plants alone are grown more for their refreshing scent than as a mosquito repellent.

A wooden frame added to this raised bed holds the bird netting up and off the strawberry plants below. Plant strawberries in mid-spring or in late summer/early autumn – no later than the first week of September in the northern Britain and the second week of September in southern regions. When growing plants through biodegradable membrane, consider installinga seep hose underneath as rainwater penetration may be reduced. You can use a fleece net over our strawberry cages over winter, with extra pegs for wind resistance.