Best 7 Steps to grow Strawberries in Pots

If you don’t know how to grow strawberries in pots, you are on the right page! It’s not difficult to grow strawberries in pots, but there are a few points to consider. Many people want strawberries at home. If you are one of them the best option is to grow strawberries in pots. The pot or the container where you grow your strawberries can be on your balcony or patio. To ensure that the plants have room for their roots and can bear a lot of fruit, you must pick the correct variety and pot. In this article, we will guide you to grow strawberries in pots in the best possible way!

7 Steps to grow Strawberries in Pots

• Choose the right time
• Choose the right plant
• Choose the right pot
• Prepare the soil
• Planting
• Watering in time
• Care for Strawberries

When do I grow Strawberries in pots?

Besides the question, of how to grow strawberries in pots, there is the other question which is: When to grow strawberries in pots? As a crop for the chilly season, you must plant your strawberries in May. By now, the soil ought to be ready for planting. There is nothing to worry about if your garden has been neglected. The great strawberry plants may still be grown.

If strawberries are properly cared for, they will continue to flourish year after year. If you don’t want to redo your yard every year or two, think about planting several types in pots that can be moved about as required.

Which type of Strawberry can I plant in pots?

Your effectiveness as a strawberry producer depends on your choice of strawberry variety. Depending on what you want to do with the fruit, you should choose the type to harvest and consume. Several types may be raised in containers or pots, including:

• Alpine strawberries¹
• June-bearers²
• Everbearing varieties

We have a piece of additional information for you! As we are talking about how to grow strawberries in pots in the best possible way, there is another tip to fasten them. I am sure you have heard about companion plants before³. If not, it is the right time! Strawberry is a very friendly plant, and it loves the presence of neighbors. Therefore, you must consider strawberry companion plants. With the help of these companionships, your strawberries will grow faster and healthier! Want to learn more about the strawberry companion plant? Check out our article about the best strawberry companion plants:

Which is the right pot for my Strawberries?

Choosing the appropriate pot is the next step. Whether you intend to grow strawberries in pots or outdoors and how many you want to grow will determine the size of your container⁴. Each plant should have at least 8 inches (20 cm) of space around it in all directions, but the larger the pot, the more area there will be for the roots to spread out and establish healthy, strong, and long roots.

Choose a pot with drainage holes at the bottom and make sure it is deep enough for water to be drained by gravity alone easily (at least 8 inches). Choose a wide-based container if you intend to grow strawberries inside so that any extra moisture from rain or overwatering won’t leak out onto your flooring.

A container or pot with a minimum depth of 6 inches and space for the roots to spread out is required. Trees, shrubs, and other perennials grow well in pots since they are often smaller than the plants they contain.

How to prepare the soil?

You must include organic materials in the soil, such as old manure or compost⁵. The soil will become more pliable as a result, making it simpler for your strawberry plants to absorb nutrients. Additionally, it ensures that your strawberries have adequate airflow around their roots because damp soil can lead to rot and fungal issues in your pots. If you can’t get these things, think about putting some peat moss or perlite in their place. These are essential supplements to grow strawberries in pots.

By the way, before we go on to grow strawberries in pots; if you have difficulties with hard soil and do not know how to soften it, you may make a quick digression. We have also prepared an article about how to soften hard soil. Have a look at it:

Mix some water with some dry soil from each container to see whether your soil is balanced. If the combination dries out after 24 hours (or longer), your soil is too acidic and requires more lime. If there is no change at all, your soil may be too alkaline (high pH). You may use certain commercially available solutions like Espoma Acid Lime & Alkali Soil Conditioner ($6/lb) to neutralize excess acidity and ensure everything stays nice and balanced if this is a problem with any of your pots, especially if it impacts more than one.

Another crucial stage in growing excellent strawberries is fertilizing, while there are many differing views on which kind are most suitable. In the next step, we will search for the best time to grow strawberries in pots. Before, we want to call your attention on our article about how to make oranic fertilizer at home. This method helps to grow strawberries in pots healthier and faster!

When do I plant Strawberries?

If you wish to grow strawberries in pots, the best time to sow them is in the early spring, between March and April. We advise planting seeds in the spring or the fall.

Either bare-root or pot-grown strawberry plants are always available. While planting both is the same, you should be sure to place them in a location where they will have access to ample water and nutrients during the growing season. Put a container you’re using on top of your potting soil if you’re using one (or soil-less mix). Then insert your crowns into the pot by digging a 2-inch-deep hole. Use some rocks or pebbles as drainage material before burying them into position if the bottom of your potting soil lacks a drainage hole. We will talk about watering and feeding more deeply in the next section. Keep reading!

How to water and feed Strawberries?

Strawberries need a lot of water. I am sure you are already aware of that. Depending on the weather, you should water your plants every two to three days. You’ll probably need to water strawberries more frequently if you’re growing them in pots as opposed to in the ground. Growing strawberries in pots will make the plant thirstier⁶.

If you’re growing plants in pots as well and want them to produce throughout the year, even in the winter, feed them every two weeks throughout the growing season to give them extra nutrients. Like that, you will be able to grow strawberries in pots the best possible way!

How to care for Strawberries?

Keep the soil wet but not drenched. Utilize a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, to fertilize every four weeks. Plants should be pruned often to promote healthy development. Before they cause a disease to spread throughout the plant, remove any dead leaves or harmed fruits.

Strawberries should be picked when they are fully ripe on the vine, which means they are solid enough to consume even after a day or two and do not simply fall off the plant when touched. Sometimes it can be hard to wait. We want them to be ready as soon as possible. Be patient. It will be worth waiting. The taste, the form, and also its nutritients will be better when you pick the perfect time to harvest. We guarantee you that!

Now after following all seven steps there is nothing to stop you to grow strawberries in pots! I hope you like the instructions and are ready to start planting your own strawberries in pots! Feel free to ask questions or leave comments below!

References

1. Yurdugül, S. (2008). An evaluation of the retention of quality characteristics in fresh and freeze‐dried alpine strawberries. International journal of food science & technology, 43(5), 865-870.
2. Sønsteby, A., & Heide, O. M. (2008). Temperature responses, flowering and fruit yield of the June-bearing strawberry cultivars Florence, Frida and Korona. Scientia Horticulturae, 119(1), 49-54.
3. Griffiths‐Lee, J., Nicholls, E., & Goulson, D. (2020). Companion planting to attract pollinators increases the yield and quality of strawberry fruit in gardens and allotments. Ecological Entomology, 45(5), 1025-1034.
4. Lal, M., Singh, G., Rana10, K., & Sharma11, S. EFFECT OF CONTAINER SIZE AND GROWING MEDIA ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY (Fragaria× ananassa Duch.).
5. Kanaya, H., Takiguchi, O., Uto, S., & Shimomura, K. (2021, May). Battery less soil moisture sensors for strawberry seedlings. In 2021 International Conference on Electronics Packaging (ICEP)(pp. 1-2).
6. Rivoira, L., Castiglioni, M., Kettab, A., Ouazzani, N., Al-Karablieh, E., Boujelben, N., … & Bruzzoniti, M. C. (2019). Impact of effluents from wastewater treatments reused for irrigation: strawberry as case study. Environmental Engineering & Management Journal (EEMJ), 18(10).