There’s nothing nicer than the first few strawberries of the season and for an early crop it’s well worth growing a few plants in containers under cover. You can keep plants in the same pots or troughs for at least two years and if you are lucky, three years. After that time, they lose their vigour and the crop decreases. Strawberries need a cold period in winter and a cold greenhouse or polytunnel is perfect as it prevents the roots from getting too wet outside. Keep the compost just moist and if you want an early crop in May, move the plants into a frost-free place from mid-January where they will gradually start to wake up as the day length increases.