If your space is limited, grow strawberries in containers.
It’s best to consider strawberry plants as annuals when grown in containers since plants are shallow-rooted and can be difficult to overwinter. Select day-neutral or everbearing varieties because they fruit the first year. Day-neutral varieties bloom and fruit most of the growing season; everbearing varieties have two major flushes of blooms and berries.
The best containers are about 12 inches in diameter and eight inches deep. Strawberry jars or hanging baskets are nice; however, they can be difficult to maintain. Both will dry out quickly, and soil heats up fast, not good for strawberries. Keep this in mind if you use jars or baskets.
Plant strawberries so the crown of the plant is even with the soil surface. Use all-purpose potting soil. If your potting soil doesn’t include a slow-release fertilizer, add some to the planting. Space plants are about eight inches apart; a 12- inch container can fit three or four plants. Place containers in full sun.
Consistent moisture is critical. You may have to water daily or multiple times a day in summer. Apply water-based fertilizer two to three times during the growing season. It’s helpful to remove the first flush of blooms that form early in spring; this will help plants develop a stronger root system.
Container-grown strawberries aren’t as productive as their in-ground cousins. Everbearing varieties in containers will produce a crop in June and another near the end of summer. With day-neutral varieties, expect a handful of berries every few weeks. Harvests will slow down during the heat of summer but will resume when temperatures cool in fall. Try overwintering containers by placing them in an unheated garage or shed. Keep them watered and add a layer of straw mulch cover.
Here’s everything you need to know from the University of Minnesota Extension at https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-strawberries-home-garden. There’s also a short video from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension; visit https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/growing-strawberries-in-containers/. Add strawberry containers to your balcony or patio this year.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County answers home and garden questions which can be emailed to homeandgarden@cornell.edu or call 315-736-3394, press 1 and ext. 333. Leave your question, name, and phone number. Questions are answered on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also, visit our website at cceoneida.com or phone 315-736-3394, press 1 and then ext. 100.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: You can grow strawberries in containers
Reporting by Rosanne Loparco / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
