How To Grow Strawberries In Pots: 7 Tips For Juicy Fruits

by John Griffith
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Strawberries are a real delight! They look cute, they taste amazing, and they are the perfect bite of freshness. But those aren’t their only benefits. Strawberries are also pretty easy to grow. And while you may think that they need a big garden to thrive, you will be pleasantly surprised to find out that some varieties of this fruit do great in pots and containers. Growing strawberries is super fun and rewarding. After all, nothing tastes better than homegrown fruits and veggies. Potted strawberries are just as yummy and juicy as those from the garden, as long as you give them the proper care. That’s why today we will show you how to grow strawberries in pots, so you can enjoy your very own homegrown delicious fruits.

Homegrown strawberries are a real delight

strawberries hanging off the side of red pot

How To Grow Strawberries In Pots

Strawberries make great container fruits, as they are compact and grow quite fast. Growing them in pots is a great way to enjoy sweet fruits all summer without constantly slaving in the garden. Plus, they are easy to look after, so there really is no downside. Today we will share with you all our tips on how to grow these juicy fruits to ensure your strawberries grow healthy and productive.

Strawberries make great container fruits

picked strawberries in a bowl

#Prepare your plants and pots

Before you start planting, you first need to prepare your materials and the plant. Strawberries can be started by seed, bare-root crowns or transplants. However, it’s important you choose a compact variety. Some preferred compact varieties include the seascape, yellow wonder, albion and others. After you have gotten the right type of strawberries, it’s time to choose the right containers. Strawberries don’t like crowded conditions, so you will need to plant only three plants per square foot of soil. So measure the surface area of your containers to figure out if how much space it will have. Make sure the containers also has drainage holes.

You first need to prepare your materials and the plant

strawberries in a woven pot

#Choose the right soil

Okay, you’ve got the strawberries and the pots, now it’s time to get the right type of soil. This type of plant does best in a loose, loamy soil mixture as it will hold the moisture but drain away any excess water. You can find this potting mix in most gardening stores which makes it easily accessible. However, you can also make your own potting soil with peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, compost, and some sand for drainage.

This type of plant does best in loamy soil

strawberry plant with fruit

#Plant correctly

If you are dealing with seedling or bare-root crowns you need to plant them in a way that their crowns stay just above the soil surface. To achieve this just make a small mound in the soil and spread out the plants roots over the mound. Then cover everything up to the crown with potting mixture. Water the soil and add more soil if needed. Just do not cover the crown. If you are dealing with seeds, just fill up your pot with soil, moisten it with some water and sprinkle the seeds evenly over the surface. Press the seeds gently into the mix but don’t completely bury them. Then cover the pot with some plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect.

The crowns need to stay just above the soil surface

how to grow strawberries in pots growing strawberries in a big pot

#Find the right location

Strawberries need a minimum of eight hours to a maximum of twelve hours of sun per day. This will help ensure that they flower and produce fruits. If they are placed on a windowsill and the light only comes from one direction, it’s recommended to rotate the container every three days. This will help the plant grow evenly.

Strawberries need a minimum of eight hours of sun per day

strawberries growing on balcony

#Watering schedule

When it comes to watering, strawberries need to be watered when the soil that is an inch below the surface feels dry. Usually this amounts to watering them twice a week. In general, this fruit does not like wet soil. The soil should be slightly damp. Not too dry but also not drowning in water. If you live in a really warm climate, the soil may dry out faster, so keep an eye out and water more regularly.

Strawberries need to be watered when the soil feels dry

home grown strawberries in a basket

#Supplements

Container plants in general need some supplemental feedings. Unlike plants grown in the garden, they have no way of gaining extra nutrients from the nature surrounding them. That is why it is recommended to help out your strawberries by getting a balanced liquid fertilized and give them a supplement feeding every three to four weeks.

Container plants in general need some supplemental feedings

strawberries hanging from the side of the pot

#Provide protection

Strawberries need protection from both the cold and pests. While this plant produces more when allowed to go dormant during the colder months, if you live in a really cold area, their roots can freeze. That’s why it is recommended to bring your strawberry plants inside once the temperatures start dropping and to water them only when the soil is really dry. If you have space in the container, you can mulch them. When it comes to pests, this type of plant attracts rodents, birds, and insects.  So, depending on where you keep the plant, you may need to provide it with some netting to keep these pests away.

Strawberries need protection from both the cold and pests

how to grow strawberries in pots strawberry growing in pot

This was how to grow strawberries in pots the right way. We hope you found this article useful. Even without a big garden, you can finally start growing your very own juicy strawberries and enjoy them for years to come.

This was how to grow strawberries in pots the right way

two strawberries ripe and hanging

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John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.