The Joy of Growing Strawberries in Pots
Most people think of strawberries as being grown in patches outdoors, which is one option but if you have limited outdoor space or live in an apartment, you could consider growing strawberries in pots. This way, you would have the opportunity to enjoy delicious and juicy strawberries whenever you want. In fact, along with strawberries, a number of fruits and vegetables can be grown successfully indoors.
Of course, you could also think about growing strawberries in pots that would be used to enhance the appearance of a deck or patio area. Using decorative pots, you would simply place them in strategic locations. The benefit here is that you still have the opportunity of enjoying homegrown fruit but the pots themselves become a focal point for your outdoor living space.
The first step is to choose the pot in which you want to grow this fruit. The most important consideration is to choose a container with holes in the bottom for proper drainage. No matter the type of pot chosen, whether one that would be raised on the floor, ground, or shelf, or a hanging container, just make sure it is large enough for the number of plants and has drainage holes. Of course, if you find pots that you love but they do not have holes, three or four could easily be drilled, cut, or punched out.
The next thing for growing strawberries in pots is to choose the actual plants. You could go with seasonal strawberries, which typically do better in colder climates, or ever-bearing strawberries. Both types of plants product amazing fruit with the same nutritional value and flavor but the seasonal tends to be the hardier of the two.
Growing strawberries in pots will also involve the right soil. You want loamy soil for this particular type of fruit, which means it has a significant amount of organic material added. Then, be sure you add 21-0-0 ammonium sulfate or 5-10-5 fertilizer to help balance it out. As a result, you will find your strawberries grow bigger, juicer, and stronger.
The next step for growing strawberries in pots is the planting phase. With the chosen pot or container full of prepared soil, create a small well in the center in which you place the plant. Once set, cover the roots of the plant with soil. For the best results, put just one strawberry plant inside each pot but if you are growing strawberries in pots that have lots of room, you could place two or three plants.
Keep in mind that strawberries need lots of sunlight so be sure the pots are in a position where they will get the most sunlight possible. While strawberries need adequate water, the goal when growing strawberries in pots is to keep the soil damp but not overly wet. The best way to determine when strawberries should be watered is that as soon as the top half portion of the soil becomes dry, then it is time to water. The final step for growing strawberries in pots is to fertilize every other week during the summer, using high phosphorus liquid type fertilizer.