Strawberry Gorella - Fragaria

The 'Gorella' Strawberry is a vigorous, non-perpetual variety that flowers between May and June. It produces an abundance of fruit between June and July. Its large strawberries weigh between 30 and 40 grams each. They are conical in shape and slightly elongated. Their flesh is renowned for its sweet flavour and strong aroma that will be particularly appreciated in fruit salads, eaten as is, accompanied by vanilla whipped cream, placed on a tart or blended into a coulis. Plant the plugs in spring or autumn, in sunny, fertile, and well-prepared soil. Strawberries also adapt very well to container gardening.

It is a perennial plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. The wild strawberry or woodland strawberry, present in Roman times and the Middle Ages, was crossed in the 18th century with a species brought back from Chile. Through successive selections, this gave rise to different varieties with large fruits.

There are three categories of varieties:

- Wild strawberries that bear small fruits from June to October

- Non-perpetual varieties with large fruits. They bloom once a year in spring, producing large fruits around June

- Perpetual varieties with large fruits. They bloom twice a year or continuously, producing large fruits from June to October

It has a spreading habit, sometimes climbing or trailing, with persistent, ovate, and dentate trifoliate leaves. Depending on the varieties, it produces small white, yellow, or pink flowers with a golden centre that transform into fruits. The strawberries are generally red but sometimes pink, yellow, or white. Botanically speaking, we refer to strawberries as pseudocarps, with the achenes (seeds) protruding under the epidermis.

Strawberries can be consumed in multiple ways: they can be eaten fresh with sugar and cream, or thinly sliced and dried before being incorporated into muesli or yogurt. If you have a bountiful harvest, consider making jams, coulis, pies, ice creams, or sorbets. You can also freeze them.

Strawberries are rich in vitamins (particularly C and B) and minerals. They can cause urticating effects for some people as they stimulate histamine release in the body.

Harvesting: pick the fruits as they ripen on the plants. Strawberries are delicate, so pick them with their calyx by pinching the stem 1 to 2cm (1in) above the fruit. The texture of the fruit is a good indicator of its ripeness. It should be firm and slightly soft to the touch.

Storage: ideally, strawberries should be consumed quickly after harvest to fully enjoy their flavour. Refrigeration is possible, but may alter the taste qualities of the fruit. Strawberries can also be dried or frozen. If you have a bountiful harvest, consider making preserves, coulis, ice creams, or sorbets.

Gardener's tip: strawberry plants are good companions for garlic, beans, lettuce, onions, leeks, thyme, and spinach. However, they do not thrive when planted near cabbage and other brassicas.