How to Grow Strawberries in Pots. Strawberry cultivation in pots is enjoyable and simple. Strawberries of any variety can bear fruit when grown in containers. Strawberries that bear in June and those that do not are different. Strawberries that yield fruit in June will provide their sole crop in the first two weeks of the summer. Additionally, compared to June-bearing strawberries, both day-neutral everbearing varieties have a longer season.
Everbearing strawberries will provide you with two to three harvests each season, whereas day-neutral bushes will occasionally yield berries throughout the summer. However, compared to other strawberry kinds, everbearing strawberries have smaller fruit and fewer runners. Whichever you decide on, be sure to acquire the proper size container as each has distinct requirements for container size. To cultivate and take care of potted strawberry plants, follow these instructions to improve your chances of a fruitful crop.
What You’ll Need
| Equipment / Tools | Materials |
| Watering can | Strawberry crowns or seedlings |
| Garden trowel | Planting container |
| Potting mix |
Instructions:
Prepare the Plants
Strawberries can be started from transplants or bare-root crowns. In pots, transplants will appear lush and attractive right away, but you’ll need to wait for dormant bare-root crowns to grow roots and generate leaves. Plant only three strawberry plants per square foot of soil since strawberry plants don’t want to be crowded (for a 12-inch by 12-inch pot, for example). If the container doesn’t taper steeply, measure the surface area to determine how much space the plant will need because its roots are relatively shallow.
Add Soil
Put soil in the container. A loose, loamy potting mix that can store moisture yet quickly drain away any extra water is the ideal soil for strawberries grown in containers. Use a container with a drainage hole in the bottom, and be sure to.
Plant the Strawberries
Plant the strawberry plants with their crowns—where the stem and roots meet—just above the soil line. In the potting soil, create a tiny mound and distribute the roots over it. After that, add potting mix over the roots all the way to the crown and thoroughly water the area. When the soil has had time to settle from watering, add extra potting soil as necessary, but avoid covering the crown with it.
Place the Container
In order to produce a lot of blooms and fruits, place the pot somewhere that gets at least eight to twelve hours of sun every day. To ensure that the plants grow uniformly when only one direction of light is available, rotate the container every three to four days if you can. Ensure the plants are shielded as well. Pests can still get to the strawberries even though they are in pots. Your plants will still attract insects, birds, and rodents, so keep them enclosed with netting or fencing.
Water the Plants
Every time the soil feels dry about an inch below the surface, or about twice per week, water your strawberries. The dirt shouldn’t be wet or sitting in the water around the plants. To provide the ideal climate for fruits to form, keep the soil slightly wet but not saturated. The soil in containers tends to dry out more quickly than the soil on the ground. As a result, prolonged heat and dry conditions may call for twice-daily watering.
Feed Your Strawberries
The majority of container plants profit from some additional nutrition. Every three to four weeks, give your strawberries a balanced liquid fertiliser feeding. As the plants start to generate perennial buds within the crown that will develop into the flowers and fruit of the following year, remember to fertilise in the fall as well.
Protection from the Winter:
When allowed to dorm in the winter, strawberries yield at their peak. Though some containers will fracture if left outside in frigid temps, the roots may freeze in colder climates. For winter protection, you can relocate your containers to a deck or an unheated garage. Just when the soil is too dry should you water. Additionally, you might be able to mulch the container and leave it in situ.
The Benefits of Container Strawberry Planting
For a few key reasons, strawberries make an excellent selection as container plants:
- Space: Due to how small the strawberry plant is, even gardeners with the limited room can usually handle a few pots.
- Beauty: Aesthetically beautiful and delicious, some strawberry cultivars grow blossoms that resemble small wild roses.
- Convenience: Strawberries can be grown in pots and placed near your outdoor lounging area or kitchen for convenient plucking.
- Chemical, Disease, and Pest control: Strawberry plants can be raised off the ground to reduce pest issues and bacterial and fungal illnesses. Additionally, it’s simpler to keep harmful lawn and garden chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, away from your plants.
Containers Used to Grow Strawberries:
The best container for growing strawberries is one with good drainage, whether it be a dedicated strawberry pot, a hanging basket, or a planter. It doesn’t matter whether the container has numerous drainage holes all over it or only a few at the bottom.
Because strawberries have a relatively small root ball, they don’t require a planter that is too deep. Small containers with a 10 to 12-inch diameter and an 8-inch depth can be used to cultivate them. However, you will need to water more frequently the smaller the container. It is best to plant June-bearing strawberries in a raised bed made of wood as opposed to a container if you want to grow them.
When to Replace Strawberries in Pots:
Furthermore, roots will stay cooler in synthetic pots and lighter-coloured pots than in dark colours and natural materials that conduct heat, like clay and metal. If you live in a hot region, choose light-coloured containers because strawberry plants do not enjoy extremely high temperatures. 1
