Strawberry Malling Allure: A Late-Season Strawberry Plant for Heavy Crops and Superb Flavour

Fragaria × ananassa

Strawberry Malling Allure: A Gardener’s Perspective

Strawberry Malling Allure is the perfect addition to any garden, delivering heavy crops of large, brightly coloured berries with an exceptional flavour. This new late-season variety has been bred for its fruit quality, matching the high standards of the renowned Malling Centenary, but with a harvest period 14 days later. If you’re a gardening enthusiast looking to enjoy sweet summer strawberries well into the season, Strawberry Malling Allure offers the perfect solution. Keep reading to learn why this variety stands out and how to grow it successfully in your garden.

What Makes Strawberry Malling Allure Special?

Strawberry Malling Allure is a robust and vigorous strawberry plant with an upright habit, making it easy to grow and maintain. This variety produces heavy crops of large, uniformly shaped berries with an eye-catching orange-red colour.

The berries boast a high Brix level, delivering a sweet flavour that is perfect for fresh eating or preserving. Malling Allure’s cropping season is 14 days later than Malling Centenary, extending your strawberry harvest into the late season.

This variety is also notable for its good resistance to powdery mildew, ensuring healthy plants and high-quality fruit throughout the growing season.

Why Choose Strawberry Malling Allure Over Other Varieties?

Strawberry Malling Allure stands out for its superb fruit quality, which matches the high standards set by Malling Centenary. It offers heavy cropping potential, with 92% of its berries exceeding 35mm in size, making it an ideal choice for gardeners seeking reliable yields of large fruit.

This late-season variety produces fruit well into late July, ensuring a prolonged supply of delicious berries. Its robust growth habit and resistance to powdery mildew make it a dependable option, even for less experienced gardeners.

If you’re selecting strawberry varieties for your garden, Malling Allure is an excellent choice to complement early and mid-season types, extending your strawberry season and enhancing your harvest.

How to Plant Strawberry Malling Allure for the Best Results

Planting Strawberry Malling Allure is straightforward and rewarding. Follow these steps to give your plants the best possible start:

1. Timing: Cold-stored plants are available from late spring, and fresh dug strawberry plants are offered mid-October to late November. Choose the appropriate time for planting based on availability.
2. Spacing: Space plants 30cm apart, with 45cm between rows, to allow good airflow and easy maintenance.
3. Planting: Position the crown of the plant at soil level and ensure the roots are spread out in the planting hole.

Water well after planting and mulch around the plants with a thick layer of organic matter to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

What Soil Conditions Suit Strawberry Malling Allure?

Strawberry Malling Allure thrives in well-prepared soil that is free-draining and rich in nutrients. Here’s how to prepare the soil:

• Use a well-manured, fertile soil to provide the nutrients needed for heavy cropping.
• Ensure the soil is free-draining to prevent crown rot and verticillium wilt, which this variety is moderately susceptible to.
• Maintain a pH of 5.5 to 6.5, as strawberries prefer slightly acidic conditions.

Choose a sunny, sheltered spot for planting to give your plants the best conditions for growth and fruit production.

How to Care for Strawberry Malling Allure Plants

Caring for Strawberry Malling Allure plants is essential to achieve the best results. Here are the key steps:

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the flowering and fruiting stages. Avoid waterlogging to protect the crown of the plant.
• Feeding: Apply a balanced fertiliser during the growing season to support vigorous growth and heavy cropping.
• Mulching: Mulch around the plants with straw or compost to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.

Prune strawberry runners to direct the plant’s energy into fruit production. Regular care ensures healthy plants and a bountiful crop.

Can Strawberry Malling Allure Be Grown in Growbags or Containers?

Yes, Malling Allure performs well when grown in growbags or containers, making it suitable for gardeners with limited space. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose a container with good drainage holes and fill it with free-draining soil or high-quality compost.
2. Plant strawberry plants 30cm apart, ensuring the crown is at soil level.
3. Position the containers in a sunny, sheltered spot and water regularly.

Growing in containers allows you to move your plants to protect them from extreme weather, ensuring a healthy crop.

When and How to Harvest Strawberry Malling Allure?

Strawberry Malling Allure is ready for harvest from late June to late July, depending on planting conditions. Follow these tips for a successful harvest:

1. Pick berries when they are uniformly orange-red, firm, and fragrant.
2. Use scissors to cut the stem, leaving a small portion attached to the fruit.
3. Handle the berries gently to avoid bruising and store them in a cool, dry place.

Freshly harvested berries are perfect for enjoying fresh, adding to desserts, or freezing for later use.

What Are Strawberry Malling Allure’s Resistance Levels?

Malling Allure offers good resistance to powdery mildew, ensuring healthy plants and high-quality fruit. However, it is moderately susceptible to crown rot and verticillium wilt, so preventative measures are essential.

To reduce the risk of disease:

• Plant in free-draining soil to prevent waterlogging.
• Rotate your strawberry patch every three years to minimise soil-borne diseases.
• Remove and dispose of infected plants promptly.

By taking these precautions, you can maintain healthy plants and enjoy consistent yields of superb fruit.

Tips for Buying Strawberry Malling Allure Plants Online

When buying Strawberry Malling Allure plants online, consider these tips:

• Look for Cold-Stored Plants: Cold-stored strawberry plants are available from late spring and offer the perfect condition for planting.
• Choose a Reputable Supplier: A trusted supplier ensures that all its plants are healthy, well-rooted, and ready for planting.
• Check for Delivery Details: Confirm the delivery charge and timeline to ensure your plants arrive on time.

Buying plants online is convenient and ensures you have access to high-quality Malling Allure plants. Buy Malling Allure jumbo plugs here.

Key Points to Remember:

• Strawberry Malling Allure is a new late-season variety with heavy crops of large, bright orange-red berries
• The berries have a sweet flavour and a high Brix level, making them ideal for fresh eating or preserving
• Malling Allure is a vigorous plant with an upright habit, offering good resistance to powdery mildew
• Plant in free-draining soil and a sunny, sheltered spot, spacing plants 30cm apart for optimal growth
• Care for your plants by watering, feeding, mulching, and pruning strawberry runners to encourage fruit production
• This variety is perfect for growbags or containers, making it suitable for small spaces
• Harvest fruit from late June to late July, picking berries when they are uniformly coloured and firm

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’ plant?

A: The’Malling Allure is a new late-season variety that produces heavy crops of large, bright berries. It’s known for its exceptional fruit quality, meeting the high standards set by other popular varieties.

Q: When is the best time to plant Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’?

A: The best time to plant these strawberries is in spring or early summer. They thrive in well-manured, free-draining soil and will reward you with fruit from mid-October to late November during the late season.

Q: How many Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’ plants should I get?

A: For a good harvest, it’s recommended to plant about 10 plants per square metre, spacing them 45cm apart. This allows sufficient space for healthy growth and maximum berry production.

Q: Can I grow Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’ in hanging baskets?

A: Absolutely! Malling Allure is perfect for hanging baskets. Just ensure they receive plenty of sunlight and regular watering to maximise your berry yield.

Q: What makes Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’ different from the Malling Centenary variety?

A: Both are excellent varieties, but ‘Malling Allure’ is a newer late-season option, producing larger and brighter berries. It also offers improved disease resistance compared to the Malling Centenary.

Q: Are Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’ plants available as cold-stored plants?

A: Yes! Cold-stored strawberry plants are available and are a great choice, as they ensure well-rooted, ready-to-grow plants for when the planting season begins.

Q: How do I care for my Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’ plants?

A: Caring for these plants is straightforward! Plant them in a sunny position with well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Water them regularly and ensure the area is free of weeds. With proper care, you’ll enjoy a plentiful harvest.

Q: What kind of yields can I expect from Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’?

A: You can expect heavy crops of large, vibrant berries. This late-season variety is a great choice for those seeking excellent yields, provided the plants are well cared for.

Q: Are there any special tips for growing Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’?

A: Certainly! Ensure the soil is free-draining and avoid planting them too close together. If growing in hanging baskets, water regularly and keep them in a sunny spot to help produce a bumper crop of late-season berries!