How to Plant and Grow Strawberries in Containers

By Darcy Logan

Strawberries are one of the best plants to grow in containers and even do well indoors. All they need is a sunny spot where they can get at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day. If you don't have a sunny enough window for them, they can be supplemented with artificial sunlight. To get the best results, you will need to choose the right type of strawberry and plant it correctly.

Types of Strawberries

There are many different varieties of strawberries; however, all fall into one of three categories: June-bearing, everbearing or day neutral. June-bearing strawberries produce a large, concentrated crop once a year during a three-week period, usually in June as their name suggests. Everbearing, also called ever bearing, strawberries produce two crops of strawberries, one in the spring and another in the late summer or fall. Day neutral are often considered new improved everbearers. They are capable of bearing fruit continuously from June through September. Day neutral strawberries prefer cooler temperatures, however, and will not flower or bear fruit during hot weather.

Within each of the categories are a number of different varieties. Which one you choose depends upon your climate, growing conditions, and when you want the fruit to ripen. For example, red alpine strawberries (an everbearer) are usually the best choice if you intend to grow your strawberries indoors because they are more tolerant to shady conditions. The Brighton variety, another everbearer, is known for doing well in hanging baskets. If you plan to keep your plants outdoors, check with your local greenhouse to see what varieties will grow best in your area.

How to Plant Strawberries

Strawberries should be planted in the early spring in areas with a cold winter (zones 1-5), while the temperature is still cold. In warmer areas, strawberries can be planted in the fall. Of course, strawberries can be planted at any time of the year if you plan to keep them inside.

Strawberries prefer a soil with a pH between 5.3 and 6.5, but will grow in soils that have a slightly higher or lower pH level. It is a good idea to add a controlled-release fertilizer to the soil before planting. You should also trim off any older leaves from the plant and remove all flowers and runners. Roots should be trimmed so they are about 4 to 5 inches in length and any damaged areas removed. Then, place the roots in water for an hour immediately before planting. The plant should be placed in the soil so the crown of the plant is even with the soil's surface and the roots fan out.

For the first six weeks after planting, remove all blossoms on everbearing and day-neutral plants by either pinching or cutting them. This will give them time to be established before expending energy towards growing fruit. Water your plants every day until the growing season, and then reduce your watering to when the top inch of soil has become dry.

Strawberries should be fertilized at least once a month. However, once it is has begun flowering, fertilize it about every 10 days until harvest season is over. They prefer a fertilizer that is high in potassium like tomato feed.

No matter where you plant them, they will need at least six hours of sunlight a day to produce a harvestable crop, although full sun is better. Make sure hanging baskets are rotated to ensure that all plants get adequate light.

Strawberries are prone to both aphids and red spider mites. For either case, an appropriate insecticide will need to be used. Strawberries can also develop powdery mildew. If your strawberry plant has purple spots on the top surface of its leaves and white fungus on the bottom side, it has developed powdery fungus and needs to be treated with a fungicide.

Hanging Strawberry Baskets

Suspending strawberries off the ground is a great way to keep slugs, snails, and sow bugs off them. Five to six strawberry plants can grow in the top of a hanging basket in the spring. But if you want to make the ultimate hanging strawberry basket, gather 24 strawberry plants, a 16 inch wire basket, potting soil, and some sphagnum moss, coconut fiber or a specially designed basket liner. Line the wire basket with the damp sphagnum moss, coconut fiber or basket liner. Insert 18 of the plants into the basket sides through the sphagnum moss. After you have finished, fill the basket with potting soil and planting the remaining plants in the top of the basket. The basket will continue to produce fruit for about three years.

Strawberry Pots

Strawberry pots are designed to hold one to three plants at the top. The pockets in the sides would then be able to hold any runners that developed as the plant matured. However, many gardeners fill all the openings with strawberry right from the start. To plant your own strawberry pot, you will need a piece of PVC pipe that is capped at one end, a drill, potting soil, and a strawberry pot. Cut the pipe so that it will fit inside the strawberry pot with the uncapped end even with the pot's rim. Drill 1/8" diameter holes an inch apart down alternating sides of the pipe. In other words, on one side your first hole might be 1/2" inch from the top, but on the other side your first hole would be one inch from the top.

Partially fill with the pot with soil and insert the tube, capped end down, into the center of the pot. Loosely add the rest of the potting mix. Plant each pocket. Add more soil around the roots if needed. Finish by planting two to three plants at the top and soaking the soil well. Water the pot by inserting a funnel into the pipe and pour water into it, ensuring that the water is distributed evenly through the pot.

Harvesting

Strawberries are ready to be picked as soon as the fruit has turned red. Of course, the exact shade of red that indicates ripeness depends on the variety of the strawberry. It is best to pick the fruit gently during dry weather making sure that the green calyx (stalk) of the plant remains with the fruit. Strawberries can be stored for about two days in shallow trays in the refrigerator. For longer periods, it is best to freeze them.

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