Strawberry Cirano - Fragaria

The 'Cirano' Strawberry is a perpetual variety, which blooms multiple times and produces strawberries from June-July until the first frost. Its medium-sized, conical-shaped red fruits contain firm flesh with a balanced flavour, both sweet and fragrant, that keeps well. Whether eaten fresh, blended into a coulis, or placed on a tart, strawberries offer multiple ways to enjoy their flavors and nutritional qualities. The plug plants of 'Cirano' strawberries can be planted in autumn or spring, in sunny, fertile, and well-prepared soil. Strawberries also adapt very well to container gardening.

The Strawberry is a perennial plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. The wild strawberry, or woodland strawberry, present in Roman times and the medieval period, was crossed in the 18th century with a species brought from Chile, resulting in numerous varieties cultivated in our gardens.

There are now three categories of varieties:

- Woodland or perpetual strawberries, producing small fruits from June to October

- Non-remontant varieties with large fruits, blooming once a year in spring, producing very large fruits around June

- Remontant varieties with large fruits, blooming twice a year or continuously, producing large fruits from June to October

The Strawberry has a spreading habit, sometimes climbing or trailing, with evergreen, ovate, and dentate trifoliate leaves. Depending on the varieties, it bears small white, yellow, or pink flowers with a golden centre that transform into fruits, generally red but sometimes pink, yellow, or white. Botanically speaking, strawberries are considered pseudocarps, with the achenes (seeds) visible on the surface.

In terms of cuisine, strawberries can be consumed in various ways. They can be eaten fresh, with sugar, cream, or sliced thinly and dried before being incorporated into muesli or yogurt. They are also well-suited for coulis, jams, pies, ice creams, sorbets, and more.

Strawberries are rich in vitamins (especially C and B group) and minerals. They can cause irritation for some people 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 peduncle by pinching the stem 1 to 2cm (0.25 to 1in) above it. The texture of the fruit is a good indicator of ripeness. It should be firm and slightly yielding to the touch.

Storage: Ideally, strawberries should be consumed soon after harvesting to fully enjoy their flavor. They can be stored in the refrigerator, but this may affect the taste quality. Strawberries can also be dried or frozen. If you have a bountiful harvest, consider making jams, coulis, ice creams, or sorbets.

Gardening 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.