Wilde aardbei

Wild strawberry turns a garden edge into a small picking patch. Fragaria vesca forms low perennial rosettes of bright green, toothed leaves, followed by white flowers and small red fruits. The berries are much smaller than supermarket strawberries, but their concentrated fragrance is the reason to grow them.

Pick fruit when it is fully ripe and enjoy it straight from the plant, spoon it over yoghurt or use it to finish a summer tart. A few gently crushed berries also perfume cream. Because the fruits are delicate, they are best gathered close to the moment you want to eat them.

Plant in spring or autumn in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. A lightly shaded garden edge is useful, although the species also grows in sun when moisture is sufficient. Water during dry spells. Plants can extend through runners: remove unwanted ones to keep the patch within bounds or root them in small pots to make new plants. Leave room for this gradual spread when using wild strawberry beneath taller plants.