Container Gardening Strawberries Care Of Strawberry Plants In Pots

Water your strawberries whenever the soil feels dry about 1 inch below the surface, or about twice per week. You don’t want the plants to be sitting in water or soggy soil. So make sure the soil remains slightly damp—not dry or soggy—to provide the best environment for fruits to form. In general, the soil in containers dries out faster than the soil on the ground.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of pots for strawberries. They can be made from plastic or wood.When it comes to their container preferences, strawberries are pretty laid back. You can select from a wide range of window boxes, terracotta pots, grow bags, and other types of planters to grow abundant berries on your patio or balcony. Welcome to StrawberryPlants.org, your one-stop source for everything related to growing and enjoying strawberries! Here we are passionate about strawberry plants, strawberries, and everything related to this wondrous fruit.

Give Your Strawberries Space

Spread the roots out in the spot as you fill it with soil, making sure the crown of the strawberry is at soil level. You may notice powdery spots or discoloration on the leaves, get a fungicide from a garden store or nursery. Wind can dry out the soil and knock the pots over, damaging your strawberries. If it gets windy where you live, keep the pots against a fence, deck, or shed. Alternatively, place stakes around the pot to keep it in place. Runners can usually be kept in the fridge for a few days before planting while starter plants can survive in their pots from the nursery.

If you’re using a large growing bed or pot, just mix fresh compost into the top layer of soil in the pot. Pluck or cut these flowers off to skip the first harvest and produce a stronger second harvest. If you have a day-neutral or everbearing variety, remove flowers until the end of June to get a harvest in the fall. If you have a June-bearing variety, remove all flowers in the first year.

Growing Strawberries in Containers

Organic matter is just biodegraded natural materials that are full of nutrients and microbes to support healthy strawberries growing in pots. Learn everything about growing strawberries from the Strawberry Master Manual, also don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest and Facebook to stay updated with everything I post. During the first year, use one and a half pounds of fertilizer per 100 feet of growing space. Break this amount into three feedings—two weeks after planting, one month after planting, and two months after planting. In the following years, use one pound of fertilizer per 100 square feet in three or four installments spread out evenly from early spring through early August. Add more soil until you reach the next holes on the container.

If there is not much sunlight in your region or if you can’t keep them in direct sunlight, set up a grow-light in your home. Place the strawberries plants under it for 6-10 hours a day. Space separate plants about 10–12 inches (25–30 cm) apart. If you have a large container, you can grow more than 1 strawberry plant in it.

• This will help the plant conserve energy for fruit growth and increase your yield substantially.
• The best time to propagate strawberries from runners is between spring and fall.
• Once the weather turns you’ll also have to take steps to protect your potted strawberries from the cold.
• You’ll have the most success with new plants bought from a reputable nursery rather than plants passed along from a friend’s garden.
• To grow strawberries in planting beds, mix 3 inches ofMiracle-Gro® Performance Organics®All Purpose In-Ground Soil into the top 6 inches of native soil.

It is better to water a little bit more often than it is to water the plant too much at one time. If standing water remains in the pot after you’ve watered, cut back on how much water you give the plants. Check growing almanacs for the last expected frost date in your area. First, you want to decide which sort of container is ideal for you. Before you run to Home Depot or Lowes to purchase planters check your garage and back yard for extra pots that might be laying around.

Growing Strawberries In Containers: How To Grow Strawberries In A Pot

Look no further than your deck or backyard to find a spot for growing strawberries. These versatile fruits grow happily in containers or beds, and are easy to grow. Junebearing varieties produce berries all at once, usually over a three-week period. In zones 5 and colder, fruit is usually ripe in June, but in warmer regions berries are ready sooner—as early as February in Florida. Ever-bearing varieties typically bear heavy crops in late spring and late summer or early fall, with lighter crops in between. In many areas strawberries can survive the winter outdoors in their container and sprout again in spring.

Be careful not to over-fertilize with nitrogen, as this can create a greater flush of leaves instead of the coveted fruits. It’s important to choose a container that allows for ample drainage when watering. Ideally, there are several drainage holes where moisture can flow out so that there is never any pooling of water at the bottom of the pot. Classic terracotta containers with water catchment trays are also great for strawberries.