Growing Strawberries In Pots Or Containers
It’s definitely worth your while to try growing strawberries, and the good news is that they are relatively easy to grow in pots or containers if you have full sun. Growing strawberries in pots or containers is an easy and funny task for beginner gardeners. In these days, container gardening is becoming increasingly popular as an easy and inexpensive way to brighten up your space. Strawberries are a compact plant and even gardeners with limited space can have a few pots at hand, and growing strawberries plants off the ground in pots or containers will help cut down bacterial and fungal disease problems.
Which Strawberry Variety to Choose to Grow?
Before starting to grow strawberries, start by deciding which variety will be best for your location.
There are three main types of strawberries: June-bearing, day-neutral, and everbearing. Some people consider everbearing and day-neutral varieties to be the same thing, but they are actually different.
June-bearing strawberries will give you one main crop in the early summer during roughly a two-week period.
Day-neutral plants produce berries sporadically throughout the summer.
Everbearing strawberries produce smaller fruit, as well as fewer runners, than the other varieties. But will give you two to three harvests each season.
No matter which variety you choose, make sure you get the right size pot or container. In this step-by-step guide, I will help you to increase your odds of a successful harvest, follow these steps for growing and caring for potted strawberry plants.
You can start strawberries from either bare-root crowns or seedlings, but seedlings in small 3 to 4-inch pots will establish themselves in containers faster than bare-root crowns.
- If you have a single strawberry in a small pot, just tip it upside-down. Keep the plant between your fingers and tap the bottom of the pot until the plant dislodges and slides out. Avoid touching the root ball, as it causes stress to the plant. If there are roots that are coiled up, loosen these with your fingers.
- In the container, dig a hole that is deep enough for your strawberry’s new plant.
- Place the plant within the hole.
- Push the soil back over the roots to cover them. Remember, When you plant your strawberries, be careful not to plant them too deeply. Keep the crown at or slightly above the soil!
- Water the plant until water starts to exit through the drainage holes.
- Don't fertilize immediately after planting. As the plant needs its resources to adapt, not to grow. Just wait about a week and if you see new growth, you can use a natural liquid fertilizer. Fish emulsion is good, which should be available at the store or local nursery. Use two to three tablespoons per gallon of water as a monthly fertilizer. Apply it to the soil around your plants, so it gets to the roots.
- Place your container in a location where it receives indirect sunlight and is also safe from the wind for at least one day.
Watch How to Plant and Grow Strawberries in Container Video
Strawberry Pests and Diseases
Strawberry plants are susceptible to threat from various pests and diseases.
Red root rot
Growth of the plants will slow down and they will become dull bluish green. The affected plant will form no or only few flowers. To prevent this harmful effect, you should purchase disease-resistant strawberry plants.
Wilt disease
The fungi of this vascular disease will penetrate into the plant through its roots. Damaged plants lag behind in growth, which manifests itself especially on hot days. Diseased leaves will discolor dull yellowish green.
Blossom-end rot and stem rot
In an early stage, small brown spots can arise on the buds. After flowering the calyx tails will turn brown, the fruits will discolor brown and will dry. The fungus will hibernate on dead parts of plant above ground level.
Mildew
Strawberry can be attacked by mildew. Especially during hot weather, the fungus can spread quickly. Some varieties are especially sensitive. The leaves will curl, forming white fungus fluff on the underside. Aeration should be done.
Root-knot
Plants, which have been seriously attacked, are strongly lagging behind in growth and are worthless for future use. So far, this nematode causes hardly any problems in strawberry plants.
Strawberry mite
Strawberry mites are living exclusively on strawberries. They are very small and stay in curled up leaves in the center of the plant. Mites can be observed in the folded young leave in the center of the plant. This young leaf will shrink. The growing point of the plant will become dull and bluish green in color.
Strawberry Plant Care
If you manage your strawberry plants properly, you can enjoy homegrown berries forever, without having to buy new plants every few years.
- To grow well and produce fruits, strawberries require sun. Eight hours of direct sunlight each day is ideal.
- Water your strawberries plants whenever the soil feels dry, about an inch below the surface. You don't want the plants to be sitting in water or soggy soil, but you don't want them to remain dry for days and start to wilt. The soil in containers dries out faster than soil on the ground. Long periods of hot, dry weather may require daily watering and as the plants grow more roots, they will need more frequent watering.
- Straw mulch is equally important in the spring and summer, as it reduces fruit and flower diseases by covering the soil and reducing spore movement carried by raindrop splash. In summer, several fungal diseases cause dark spots to form on leaves.
- Give strawberries plants liquid organic fertilizer every 2 weeks in the spring and summer.
- Continue to tend the plants. Strawberry plants are fairly hardy, and they'll continue to produce fruit year after year, for at least four years.
How To Harvest Strawberries
Harvesting your own strawberries from your own patch is rewarding, and you get the freshest, most delicious berries possible. When the whole strawberry is red, it's ready to pick.
Not all the berries will ripen at the same time, so plan on harvesting strawberries every two to three days. Morning is the best time for picking strawberry fruit, when the berries are still cool pick the fruit with about one quarter of the stem attached. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand. Harvest all strawberries once they ripen, and don’t leave any rotting berries on the bush.
Watch How to Harvest Organic Strawberries Video
If you have never grown strawberries before, then growing them in pots or containers is a great way to start. It's so easy and the rewards are indescribably sweet with organic fresh and juicy strawberries!
I hope this step-by-step guide helps you learn how to grow your own organic strawberries in pot or containers. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or reach out with any suggestions. So please let us know your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below. If you like this, you can share with your friends!
Want to watch strawberries related videos
You Can Buy Everbearing Strawberry Bare Roots From HERE!
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