Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Fresh, bright red and juicy strawberries are often used as dessert toppings and decorations because they make any food appear visually sweeter and mouth-watering. No wonder why many people love strawberries. But did you know that you can grow strawberries in your home? And for those interested in organic container gardening, strawberries are actually one of the easiest fruit-bearing plants to grow in pots. As long as all their growing requirements are met, strawberries can thrive well in any potted environment.

But before you rush to your local nursery to purchase a seedling, here are some points that you must consider to in order to successfully grow your own potted strawberries:

One: Choose the variety that suits your climate. There are two main types of strawberries – seasonal and ever-bearing. Seasonal variety bear fruits during May-June while Ever-bearing produce crops twice a year, one early in summer and another late in summer. If you live in colder regions, you’re more suitable to grow the seasonal variety because ever-bearing strawberries don’t thrive well in cold weather. But you can winter your plants by covering them with plastic sheets to keep the cold out. And since they are in containers, you can easily bring them in, especially during the night, to protect them from the cool evening draft.

Two: Pick pots or containers with enough drainage holes. Strawberries do not like to sit in soggy soil so good drainage is important. You containers must be at least 8-10 inches deep.

Three: Start with a good potting soil and enhance it by mixing organic matters in. You can also add fertilizers to the starting soil. When transplanting a young seedling, add enough soil such that the roots are covered and the bottom leaves are level with the top of the soil. But also, make sure that you leave at least 1 to 1 1/2 inch space between the rim of the pot and the top of the soil.

Four: Strawberries like it warm so give them daily doses of sunlight, making sure that you turn the plant around on a regular basis to expose all sides evenly.

Five: Avoid overwatering your strawberry plants. Water only when the top ½ inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.

Six: Feed your strawberries regularly with organic fertilizer to encourage them to bloom. Organic fertilizers that are high in phosphorus are your best bet because they aid plants in flowering and seeding.

Seven: Strawberry plants may produce fruits during the first year, but don’t expect too much. For the ever-bearing varieties, you can suppress flowering (by removing the buds) during the first season to ensure more fruits on the next year. They are sure to yield a good harvest during the second year. Wait until spring before your strawberries ripen.

Eight: When picking strawberries, pick only the ones that are already bright red in color with no green patched left.

Nine: Like you, some pests will not be able to resist the sweetness of your strawberry fruits. Slugs and ants are most likely to pester on plants that are placed at ground level. You can hang your potted plants to prevent these pests but make sure that the hooks are sprayed with ant-sprays. Birds, raccoons and other bigger animals can be attracted to the bright red berries too, so install a barrier or cover your plants with netting to stop them from enjoying your strawberries before you do.

Follow these organic container gardening tips and you’ll enjoy a sweet harvest of fresh, plump and red strawberries every year.

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