Your guide to strawberry season

Take a bite out of summer with our juicy Red Diamond strawberries. Learn when strawberries are at their peak and how to use them with our easy recipe ideas.

Assistant Copywriter

Florence Head

When it comes to strawberry season, it doesn't get any sweeter than our Red Diamonds. These summer stars are left to ripen for longer to ensure they are super sweet and juicy, with only the biggest and best strawberries selected. Learn more about when strawberries come into season and how to use them.

Discover our strawberries

Where we source our strawberries

Our Red Diamond strawberries are only grown by M&S Select Farmers we know and trust, like Stephen and Jenny Tasker at their farm in Retford, Nottinghamshire. Like all our Red Diamond Growers, their farm is geared towards nature-friendly farming, and at least 5% of the land is dedicated to wildlife. By planting wildflower meadows and corridors around their farm, the Taskers provide food for honeybees and wild bumblebees. The farm runs on energy from an on-site wind turbine, solar power and a biomass boiler.

Farm to Foodhall

What are strawberries?

Strawberries are low-growing herbaceous plants, and members of the rose family with small, white flowers. Strawberries can grow in diverse environments, from open woodlands to coastal beaches. At M&S, all strawberries are grown on tabletops in coir and carefully hand-picked for maximum flavour and consistent colour. The fruit is plump and juicy with a tart, sweet flavour. They're also naturally high in vitamin C and folate and a source of manganese.

British strawberries

When are strawberries in season?

There’s nothing quite like a sweet treat at the height of British strawberry season. Strawberries are typically in season in the UK from May or early-June to late August. Although the weather plays a major factor during the summer and the peak season can be cut short. This year, pick up 100% British strawberries at your local Foodhall from 14 May.

At M&S, we invested in winter-grown strawberries cultivated under LED lights in glasshouses to deliver British strawberries year-round. We grow outdoor crops from May to September. Our strawberries are chilled within two hours of harvesting, ready to be labelled and despatched to our customers as we strive to achieve maximum freshness and longer shelf life.

What’s in season

Pro tips: how to store and eat strawberries

Keep it clean: Wash your berries then allow to dry completely, then store in a container on kitchen paper to keep them fresher for longer.
Give them some space: Keep berries in a single layer to avoid them bruising.
Think room temp: Allow strawberries to come to room temperature before eating to enjoy their sweet flavour at its most intense.
Waste not, want not: Got a glut? Simmer with sugar and lemon zest into a glossy compote.
Green shoots: Don’t discard the green strawberry tops. Add them to a container and cover with 2 tbsp caster sugar, then allow to sit in the fridge for 24 hours – strain and you’ll have the most amazing strawberry syrup to add to cocktails and desserts.

Strawberry recipe ideas

Strawberries are just as versatile as they are delicious and make a fabulous addition to breakfasts, salads, drinks, desserts and more.

Make a big batch of our white sangria with juicy honeydew melon, peaches and strawberries – it’s summer in a glass.
Our strawberries take centre stage in these summer cupcakes, which are ready in just five minutes with no baking required.

More strawberry ideas

Strawberry and almond croissants recipe

Looking for a special brunch or indulgent breakfast idea? This homemade almond croissant recipe, elevated with juicy Red Diamond strawberries, ticks all the boxes. It works best with day-old croissants, so it’s a great way to use up leftovers.

A picture-perfect strawberries and cream pudding

If you’re looking for a summer dessert that will score you game, set and match, keep this strawberry and cream pavlova traybake recipe up your sleeve. Red Diamond Strawberries are macerated with M&S Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail for a grown-up twist, ready to be piled onto a marshmallowy pavlova base with lashings of whipped cream, fresh mint and lemon zest.

Strawberries and cream ice lollies

These healthy layered strawberry ice lollies, made with sweet M&S Collection Red Diamond Strawberries, mint and creamy Greek yogurt, are the ultimate keep-you-cool, low-sugar summer treat to stash in your freezer. Bonus points that kids will absolutely love them.

Make the lollies

Strawberries and cream – but make it a cheesecake

This irresistible strawberry cheesecake pots recipe by Tom Kerridge is a summer showstopper, minus the stress. Load juicy M&S Red Diamond Strawberries onto a buttery digestive biscuit base with a creamy cheesecake topping and tangy lemon zest, served in cute individual serving glasses.

Make these