Sú talún
Latin name: Fragaria x ananassa
Strawberries are a favourite summertime treat. Fresh Irish strawberries are juicy and sweet. They are a sign that summer has arrived!
Strawberry plants should be planted in full sunshine with lots of space. A lot of people put a layer of light plastic around the plants. This stop the weeds from growing. Weeds take a lot of the water and nutrients from the soil. This means there is less for the strawberry plants.
Strawberries growing in a greenhouse
Irish Farmers' Journal
Irish Farmers' Journal
Do you know how the strawberry plant grows?
Long stalks, called runners, grow out from the main plant. They put down roots along the ground. In this way, the plant gets bigger.
Strawberry plants are usually planted in the autumn for the next year. Some people grow them in baskets. Look at the strawberries in the photo above.
Tiny achenes all over the strawberry contain the seeds
Tiny achenes all over the strawberry contain the seeds
Tiny achenes all over the strawberry contain the seeds
It's not only people who love strawberries!
Birds love to eat them too. By eating the berries, the birds help to spread the seeds around the countryside.
Have you ever made strawberry meringues?
Just crunch up a meringue in a glass, add chopped strawberries and some cream. A perfect summer dessert!