A gardener told me that strawberries grown in containers can also produce a lot of fruits if grown well. Homegrown strawberries taste really well; it is also cheaper to buy strawberry plants than fruits from the store. Since berry is a perennial plant, I tried growing strawberries at home using a container.
Below are some tips that may guide you if you are interested in growing strawberries in containers.
Avoid overcrowding the Strawberries
Since pots or containers are small, a lot of strawberry plants may not fit in one. So, do not plant a lot to grow in one pot.
For you to get the most out of your strawberry plant, do not plant more than three plants roots in a square foot because if you allow many plant roots in a pot, it will provide you with a few strawberries.
Snip the runners in the Strawberry Plants
It is better to snip the runner plants. This type of plant is helpful if your garden has extra space. However, if you use containers, they don’t have a lot of space.
Although runner plants make a beautiful cascade from the hanging basket, they can also drain the capacity of strawberries to produce.
So, snipping the runners when you recognize them encourages the plants to focus its energy on making strawberries.
Check the temperature
Although strawberries are temperate by nature – they can thrive in the temperate zones above and below the tropical zones in the equator; they cannot stand in a tropical condition without climate control.
Try to shade the containers where you place the strawberry plants. You can also set a reflective material such as aluminum foil just around the pots to dissipate the heat and shade the pots.
Water the Strawberries
If you are from an area where heat is somewhat cumbersome, the pot may dry out quickly. So, water the strawberries and keep the soil soggy.
Avoid making the soil dry, you can water it every other day but only with less water.
Notice the Containers after Strawberry Harvest
Unknown to some people, the strawberry plant life cycle is complex. After you harvest, strawberries will grow and reproduce through runners.
You will notice that the little strawberry plants begin forming the buds that will turn for your next harvest. So, provide care so that the strawberries can get nutrients.
Apply 10-10-10 conventional or organic fertilizer at 1/3 ounce per square foot. If you pay attention to this, you can harvest more berries again.
Provide Extra Insulation for the Strawberries
If the temperature during winter stays in the twenties, the strawberries may come out winter unscathed.
However, if the temperature drops out and remains the same for a while, the plant may freeze and die. So, if the weather forecast is cold.
It is better to wrap the strawberries of insulating material. You can also place the plants in your garage to give them shelter.
If you are interested, you should check our guide on growing potatoes in containers and my other post on bare root strawberries.
