Grow Your Own Strawberries

strawberry plants

Garden strawberries (Fragaria sp.) are a hybrid variety bred originally in the eighteenth century from wild strawberries originating from North and South America. Strawberries are a great source of anthocyanins, antioxidant phytochemicals belonging to the flavonoid group. Anthocyanins give berries their red, blue and purple colours. As well as anthocyanins, strawberries also contain ellagic acid, which is a bioavailable antioxidant which shows anticancer effects in humans. Growing your own strawberries ensures that the produce is free from pesticide residues (assuming you do not use any pesticides), and can be a great way of supplementing the cost of shop bought produce. Mature strawberry plants are fairly cheap, readily available and easy to grown in pots for those without access to large growing areas. Picking your own berries in early autumn from hedgerows and woods is also a great way to obtain free berries that can be frozen and eaten during the winter months.

About Robert Barrington

Robert Barrington is a writer, nutritionist, lecturer and philosopher.
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