Growing Strawberries in Pots and Baskets: How to Plant, Grow & Winterize

Start growing the strawberries in late spring or early summer. Get your starter plant or runner right before you plan to plant it. With some varieties, you may be able to get a harvest by fall. How To Grow How to Grow Chamomile If you enjoy ending your day with a soothing cup of chamomile tea to help you relax, you’ll love the convenience of homegrown chamomile. Everbearing varieties like Quinault produce a big crop from spring flowers, set light flushes of fruit through summer, and then bloom and bear again in late summer and fall.

Although this plant produces juicy and sweet fruit throughout the year, it isn’t the easiest to grow. We recommend reading our guide on everbearing strawberry plants to help you with the planting and growing process. Another fantastic quality of growing strawberries in pots is that many containers work to germinate the fruit. The best time to propagate strawberries from runners is between spring and fall.

Cute Outdoor Doormats to Welcome Fall

Simply toss your old strawberry plants in the compost pile in the fall and buy new day-neutral starts in the spring to get a fresh start. Keep in mind that this method only works with day-neutral varieties because they will fruit in the same year as they are planted. There are several varieties of everbearing strawberry plants, and each of them have slightly different dimensions. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect your plant to be eight to 12 inches tall and one to two inches wide. If you’re using a strawberry pot, you can insert a piece of plastic pipe with holes drilled in it every inch or so. When you go to water your strawberry plants, water into the pipe and the water will be distributed to all of the plants.

Containers can be replanted in late summer and moved to a cool, protected place such as an unheated garage during the coldest months. Give strawberries room for runners by planting them 18 inches apart. Strawberries can be grown in a variety of ways, but make sure they get 8 or more hours of sun and are planted in slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.8. In colder zones you should cover your strawberry plants in a generous layer of mulch for winter protection. Here in hardiness zone 6, I apply straw about 6-inches deep. Ready to grow delicious, sweet strawberries in your home garden?

Caring for potted strawberries in winter

Strawberry plants may last longer if planted in the ground. But you can also better control weeds and the quality of soil and drainage when you plant them in pots. Whether it is a specialized strawberry pot, a hanging basket, or a planter, the best container for growing strawberries is one with good drainage. Either several drainage holes at the bottom of the container or multiple holes throughout the container will do. The best soil for strawberries in pots is a loose, loamy potting mix that will hold moisture but quickly drain away any excess water. Make sure to use a container with a drainage hole in the bottom.

• These buds will become next year’s harvest, so it’s important that you don’t skip this step.
• In this case, the distance between them should be at least 6-8” of space on all sides.Overcrowding is a key reason for low strawberry yields.
• In my northern region, strawberry plants won’t overwinter outside in pots and baskets.
• If you notice a gray-white powdery substance forming on your strawberry plants, it could be powdery mildew .
• Placing potted strawberries on an outdoor table or hanging from a hook on the corner of a veranda can help keep them elevated and closer to that summer sunshine they crave.

That way the plants will grow up and over the rim, hanging down from the container to make the most of the available space. It depends where you are of course, but I had great success with this method last winter in zone 5B and will definitely be doing the same this winter. Be sure to use something light like straw (leaves can get a bit too heavy and might smother/rot the plants). The container material also plays a part in maintenance. A porous material, like terra cotta, is gorgeous, but it dries out very quickly and you’ll need to be extra vigilant in keeping an eye on soil moisture. A plastic planter, on the other hand, retains moisture better than terra cotta.

Find day-neutral strawberry plants in local hardware stores, garden centers, or online seed companies and nurseries. In stores, they are sold in bags of 5-10 and are displayed with seed potatoes and asparagus crowns. Online, you will often find them in sets of 25 for around $25. This way you could just add your container strawberries onto the same feeding schedule as your tomatoes, peppers and other fruiting veggies.

Once a day, test the soil with your finger by sticking it into the soil up to the first knuckle. If it feels dry and doesn’t clump, water the strawberry plant. Many strawberry plants need at least 60 days to produce mature fruit. You can plant strawberries any time the ground is not frozen.

If you’re using small containers, like window boxes or hanging baskets, replace the soil entirely. Remove the strawberry gently from the pot, being careful not to disturb the roots. Discard any remaining soil and replace it with fresh potting soil. Strawberries are easy to grow in pots, thanks to their shallow roots. These plants simply require a wide, shallow pot, rich soil, and plenty of sunlight. Make sure to watch the plant carefully for signs of pests, fungus, and rot.

Planting Mix

Everbearing types produce two crops—one in late spring or early summer and another in the fall. These selections prefer the Upper and Middle South (they can’t handle the summer heat any farther South). Look for ‘Ozark Beauty’ (US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8) and ‘Quinault’ (US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8). Day-neutral, the third type, also produces two crops per year; it grows fruits for longer and with better quality in the fall.