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| Growing strawberries in a vertical container with lush green foliage |
These red, juicy fruits can be grown in a small pot, on a balcony, or even in a corner of your kitchen. Vertical strawberry gardening is a journey that not only adds color to your garden but also fills your heart with joy. So, let me tell you how to grow strawberries in a vertical tower—from the beginning to the moment you pluck the first strawberry with your own hands.
Starting Strawberries: Seed or Bare Root?
Getting started growing strawberries seems a little magical. You can start from seed, but I've never done that. Most people, including me, start with a weird-looking thing called a bare root strawberry. This tiny plant, which looks like an alien, is going to be the star of your garden. But wait, not all bare root strawberries are the same. There are three main types, and your choice depends on what you want from your garden.1. June Bearing: Lots of strawberries at once
This is the most common variety you see in the grocery store. As the name suggests—these strawberries produce lots of fruit all at once in the month of June. Their flowers begin to bloom when temperatures rise above 10 degrees Celsius in the spring. These flowers gradually turn into juicy strawberries, and you have a large crop ready in June. If you want lots of strawberries at once, this is the one for you. See this resource for information on June bearing strawberries.2. Everbearing: a little bit throughout the season
Everbearing strawberries produce small crops throughout the season. Some in spring, some in summer, and some even into autumn. They don't produce as large or heavy crops as strawberries, but they produce fruit continuously, provided temperatures are between 7 and 29 degrees Celsius. If you want a small harvest of strawberries every now and then, this is a good option.3. Day Neutral: Strawberries in Every Season
My favorite variety is Seascape. These Seascape strawberries grow in vertical containers, meaning they don't care much about weather or temperature. Spring, summer, fall—they can produce fruit any time. They are even more resilient than everbearing and produce strawberries continuously. If you want your garden to be colorful all season, choose Seascape. Learn more about Seascape strawberries.Best Vertical Planters for Strawberries
Choosing the best vertical planters for strawberries can make your garden look magical. I use Green Stock Garden. This tower is perfect for strawberries. Why? Because strawberries have a habit of spreading. They put out runners—long shoots that touch the ground and form new plants. But with vertical strawberry tower care tips, the runners hang in the air, and new plants cannot form. This keeps your garden neat and tidy.Plus, strawberries are loved by insects, birds, and even us humans! Strawberry vertical garden DIY has strawberries hanging in the air, which reduces the risk of pests. You can rotate this tower so every plant gets sunlight. And best of all—in a small 2x4 feet tower you can grow 42 strawberry plants, which can yield hundreds of strawberries. Isn't that amazing? Learn more about vertical planters.
The art of planting bare roots
The most delicate part of how to grow strawberries in a vertical tower is planting bare root strawberries. If you do it wrong, your plant may wilt, and all your excitement may turn into a dry plant. But don't worry, I'll guide you every step of the way.Best Soil for Vertical Strawberry Planting
I use Fox Farm Strawberry Fields Soil. This is a high quality organic soil that is made to be the best soil for vertical strawberry planting. It already has nutrients, so you don't need to add much fertilizer. Just fill every pocket of your tower with this soil. See the benefits of organic soil.Understand the Bare Root
Look closely at bare root strawberries. They have roots underneath, and where the roots end is where the crown begins. The crown is where the new leaves grow. There is a golden rule—never bury the crown completely. If you bury the crown completely in the soil, the plant can rot. Half of the crown should remain above the soil.How to apply
- Remove some soil from one pocket of the tower.
- Place the bare root straight down. No need to spread the roots too much.
- If you want the strawberries to hang out, place the plant towards the edge of the pocket.
- Pack the soil firmly around the roots so that there is no air. But make sure that half of the crown is still outside.
- For watering vertical strawberry planters, add a little water so that the soil can hold the roots firmly.
I tend to be a little paranoid, so double check that the crown is not buried. If the soil holds the roots well, your plant will be happy.
Preparing the Tower
It is easy to make a green stock tower in Strawberry vertical garden DIY. Install a water distributing part on it, so that water is distributed equally throughout the tower in watering vertical strawberry planters. Then stack the tower parts one on top of the other. Finally install the top part, from where you will pour water. That's it, your tower is ready!Vertical Strawberry Tower Care Tips
After planting the plants, it is important to follow vertical strawberry tower care tips.Sunshine game
Strawberries love sunlight. But in a vertical tower, one side gets more sunlight. So rotate the tower halfway every two to three days so that every plant gets equal sunlight. Learn more about the importance of sunlight.Remove the Flowers
If you are growing Seascape strawberries in vertical containers or everbearing strawberries, remove all the flowers for the first 4-6 weeks. Why? Because you don't want the plant to waste energy on making one small strawberry. You want the plant to get strong first, making lots of leaves. There are two ways you can go about June bearing—either remove the flowers the first year and prepare for a big crop next year, or leave the flowers and see what happens. I prefer day neutrals because I don't have to go through the pain of waiting.Strawberry Runners in Vertical Systems
Strawberries put out strawberry runners in vertical systems—long shoots that want to form new plants. But in a tower, these runners hang in the air. Cut them off, as they waste the plant's strength. Cut the runners off near the crown. If you like, you can create new plants by placing the runners in water.insurance policy
I always keep a few extra bare roots. Plant them in a pot. They are your insurance. If a plant in the tower dies, you can use them. Also, they can send out runners and provide new plants for next year.How to Prevent Pests in Vertical Strawberry Gardens
How to prevent pests in vertical strawberry gardens can be a big challenge. Strawberries are loved by insects and birds. But in vertical towers, the plants are at a higher altitude, which reduces the risk of pests. Still, there are a few tips:- Plant marigolds: The fragrance of marigolds keeps pests away. See benefits of companion planting.
- Use netting: Put fine netting around the tower to protect it from birds.
- Organic pesticides: Use neem oil or organic soap solution.
- Harvest time: Strawberry sweetness
After a few weeks, your tower will be lush. The leaves will start to shine, and tiny flowers will start to appear. In April, when the flowers appear, cut them off. This will make the plant stronger. If a plant dies, take a new plant from your insurance pot and plant it.
After a few more weeks, you will see tiny strawberries starting to form. When they start to turn red, squeeze them gently. If they are a little soft, it's time to pick. Pick the strawberry at the stem, then cut the stem and eat it. The taste of the first strawberry—a little sour, then sweet—is truly magical.
Organic Vertical Strawberry Gardening
Organic vertical strawberry gardening requires some regular tasks:- Keep removing runners: These steal the plant's strength. Keep cutting them off, or use them to create new plants.
- Keep watering: Watering vertical strawberry planters requires regular water, but not a lot of fertilizer.
- Protect from the cold: If you live in a cold area, move the tower to a sheltered location during the winter. In warmer areas, you can leave it as is.
The Magic of Strawberry Story
Growing strawberries in a vertical container is not just gardening, it’s a feeling. Looking up at your tower every morning, seeing the red strawberries shine among the green leaves, and then plucking them with your hands and eating them—that’s the joy a garden can give. Strawberry vertical garden DIY is easy, fun, and makes your little garden magical. So what are you waiting for? Grab your bare root strawberries, build a tower, and start this sweet journey.User Experience: “I grew strawberries in a vertical tower on my balcony, and picking red strawberries with my kids every morning was a magical experience. It was so easy I couldn’t believe it!”
Strawberry Growing FAQs
Q: What is the best soil for vertical strawberry planting?
A: Organic soil, such as Fox Farm Strawberry Fields, with good drainage is best. pH should be 5.6-6.3.
Q: How to prevent pests in vertical strawberry gardens?
A: Use of marigold, neem oil, and fine netting helps protect against insects and birds.
Q: What are vertical strawberry tower care tips?
A: Rotate the tower regularly, remove runners, and water once a week.
Q: How to grow strawberries in small spaces?
A: Use vertical towers or hanging baskets, which are ideal for small spaces. See Gardening in Small Spaces.