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Giant strawberries in Japan

strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
in Fruit & veg
I happened to watch the Paul Hollywood show where he traveled around Japan and generally tried to copy James May in a less interesting fashion.

In one of the episodes, he visited a strawberry farm that, according to him, grew the largest, best tasting strawberry he has ever eaten.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2020/05/12/paul-hollywood-eats-japan-viewers-gobsmacked-350-strawberry-12694122/amp/

Assuming that's not hyperbole, I'm guessing he's had a fair few strawberries in his time and these were excellent. So I'm curious to try and grow one next year.

I've tracked the fruit down to this farm:
https://japan-highlightstravel.com/en/travel/gifu-hashima/130010/

But it seems that either the farm is the sole breeder of this fruit (unlikely), or they are a "regular" variety that's been hormone treated.

Googling for sellers of the variety just gives me the Amazon seller blue strawberry seed nonsense (in @BenCotto 's words,  best fertilized with unicorn dung  :D ).

Anyone know much about this strawberry, or where to buy a similar plant? Are they really that great, or is this "high quality tv" in action. I know Japan is crazy over expensive fruit, so it seems like this could be a real thing, hopefully not chemically or hormone treated...

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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I saw that too and was astounded when he paid over £300 (?) for ONE strawberry - out of his own money (which I'm sure was later claimed on expenses!)

    I had a look at the website you refer to and I see they are selling ONE Strawberry for 54,000 yen = £390!!
    No mention of the plants for sale though.

    I grow Mara des Bois which reputedly has the best flavour and perfume - and 10 plants were £12!

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I don't have a lot of time for Paul Hollywood I'm afraid ... he knows his yeast cookery, but fame has gone to his head (and maybe another part of his anatomy) he believes his own publicity, is too easily seduced by a pretty face and will do almost anything for money.  I've a feeling his ex wife would tell you not to trust a word he said.  He's a fool.  I would not go by his recommendation on anything ...  I suspect he will have received a kickback for it.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'm sure people would form an orderly queue to do it.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    https://www.producereport.com/article/108-strawberries-sell-13700-japanese-auction Fruit madness is indeed a big thing in Japan. Only in Japan would you get a strawberry vending machine. I don't think you will ever see plants for sale but it would be good to know the general principles of how to get giant tasty fruit. Most giant fruit and veg grown for village shows etc are not highly regarded for taste.
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    @Pete.8 quite incredible prices, aren't they. I like the mara de bois too, but I'm always curious to try something new. I got a mixed pack of malling centenary, malvina and some others early this year, not hugely impressed!

    @Dovefromabove I agree about Paul Hollywood, but aren't there broadcasting guidelines that mean he can't just outright lie? And after all, the farmer is clearly growing and selling them, so unless those are "special tourist prices", they must be excellent strawberries (and no matter what I've never seen a strawberry that large, tasty or otherwise).

    @steephill yes exactly, I'd be very interested to know how to get large good tasting produce like that. I've never heard of a giant strawberry plant species, so there has to be some trick to it...

    I was somewhat hoping someone would post a reply saying "yes, get this variety and feed it with 10 gallons of neat Tomorite a day", but doubt it's that easy!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    strelitzia32 said:
     feed it with 10 gallons of neat Tomorite a day", but doubt it's that easy!
    Maybe that's why they're £300 a pop 😁



    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
     @strelitzia32 even with all the broadcasting guidelines in the world ... how can anyone prove that it wasn’t the tastiest strawberry PH had ever eaten? Totally subjective.  And on a commercial channel that’s paid for by sponsorship and advertising anyway ... :/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Oh @Dovefromabove for a minute I thought you were the jilted wife 😂 when I watched that programmed ages I got the impression that they were the exclusive growers, presumably hybridised a particular cross of varieties that made the new type of fruit possible. Trophy food is a strange world...but like with anything else, they're worth whatever people with lots of money can afford to pay. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • Helen P3Helen P3 Posts: 1,152
    amancalledgeorge said...
              for a minute I thought you were the jilted wife 😂 
    WHAT?????
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    philippasmith2 said:
    .... and just the right size to pop in your mouth ...

    Perhaps PH found them a good fit 😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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