Have you ever wondered how to grow fresh, juicy and sweet strawberries at home? Can strawberries be grown in containers? Of course! I've tried many methods of container gardening strawberries - directly in the ground, in raised beds, and even in small stackable planters from the Dollar Tree. But this year I discovered that the best method of strawberry container gardening and the tastiest strawberries I get are from my greenstock planter, which we set up this year.
Today I want to tell you why this planter is so special for container gardening strawberries and why you too can adopt it for your strawberry garden. Whether you are doing urban strawberry gardening or planning to container garden strawberries on a balcony, these tips will come in handy.
Best Containers for Strawberry Container Gardening: Greenstock Leaf Planter
Speaking of strawberry planters, what do I love most about this greenstock planter? First, it is a 'leaf planter'. Greenstock also has an 'Original Planter', which has very deep pockets and you can grow almost anything in it.
Leaf planters are originally designed for leafy vegetables like lettuce, as in my other Leaf Greenstock. But this planter is so deep that it's perfect for container gardening strawberries. If you're wondering what the best container is for growing strawberries, in my experience, these Tower-style Planters are a great choice. (Related: Growing strawberries in a vertical container)
Last year I struggled with Dollar Tree's stackable planters because they were too shallow to grow strawberries in containers. In fact, it was difficult to grow anything but herbs or flowers in them. This is an important lesson for beginners to strawberry container gardening - your container should be deep enough.
Easy Care and Picking of Container Gardening Strawberries
One of the great advantages of this planter is that you don't need to bend over. Whether it is weeding or picking strawberries, everything is done with ease. This is one of the key points of strawberry container gardening tips - place your planter at a height where you can work easily.
What I like best about this planter is that container-grown strawberries are very easy to pick and come out perfectly clean. The problem I had with strawberries grown in the ground or in raised beds was that they would lie on the ground and become easy prey for insects, especially ants and other pests. When caring for container gardening strawberries, protection from pests is a big advantage.
This leaf planter has 42 pockets - 7 layers and 6 pockets in each layer. It is important to know how many strawberry plants can be planted in one container, and the maximum number of strawberry plants per container in this design. I'm also tracking how many pounds of strawberries we get from just this one planter, because they are so nice, clean, and delicious. (Also read: Vertical strawberry garden hack)
Container Gardening Strawberries in Hanging Baskets Plans
I have strawberries planted in a row, which is in black landscape fabric. But we are facing the problem of eating them. So I plan to pull them out of the ground and put them in my second leaf greenstock planter for next year.
Growing strawberries in hanging baskets is also a great alternative to container gardening strawberries, especially if you have limited space. Strawberry plants grow hanging, so they are perfect for hanging baskets. It is also a good choice for DIY strawberry planter ideas.
Varieties and production of container gardening strawberries
I have planted a strawberry variety called 'Honey Eye' here, which is a popular June fruiting variety. When choosing strawberry varieties for container gardening, this is an excellent choice. A friend gave me some runners from his garden, which I planted last year.
The first year I didn't get many strawberries, which is common when planting runners. But the second year - that is, this year - they are performing brilliantly. A common question is when to plant container gardening strawberries. Usually, early spring is the best time, but it depends on the climate in your area.
I've been keeping track of their yields, although my son loves them so much that he often eats them before I even weigh them!
Now at the beginning of June, this planter is full of strawberries every day and we have to keep an eye on them so that the ripe strawberries don't go to waste.
We already have a large gallon size bag in the freezer, but I want to add more. Last year we were only able to grow enough for breakfast, but this year we are doing great with container gardening strawberries.
Harvesting and Care of Container Gardening Strawberries
Usually I pick strawberries with my kids, but right now they are both napping, so dad is having to do it alone. But when they wake up from their slumber, they will have some really tasty breakfast.
These strawberries turn out so beautiful, so sweet and fragrant. Some are over-ripe and their fragrance...wow! This is one big advantage of container gardening strawberries - you can pick them at just the right time.
Keeping track of the production of container gardening strawberries
So far we've had 4.001 pounds of strawberries from this one leaf greenstock planter, and we're just getting started! It is full of strawberries every day and we are entering strawberry season now. This prompts me to fill another planter with strawberries, which I am going to do.
Watering Container Gardening Strawberries and Last Year's Mistakes
Last year I made a huge mistake with my strawberries - not watering them enough. How Often Should Container Gardening Strawberries Be Watered? It depends on the season, but usually every day in summer and every 2-3 days in cold weather.
This is much easier with the Greenstock system because it has a large top layer that you have to fill with water. This is a great way to water strawberries in containers.
This is part of my routine, I usually do this in the morning, sometimes in the evening. This spring we got a lot of rain, so it was very easy and I didn't have to water every day.
Last year was very dry, we barely got any rain and I couldn't water my plants enough. I was hoping for a big strawberry crop, but the problem was that I was using my little Dollar Tree stackable planters, and they are too shallow for container gardening strawberries. Strawberries have deep roots and did not find that place in those planters.
Invest in the best soil and quality for container gardening strawberries
I'm very happy with the purchase of these greenstock leaf planters. I also have two of the original planters - in one I planted Swiss chard and kale, and in the other I plan to plant peppers when they are ready.
They aren't cheap, but I now understand that going on a budget isn't always best in everything. Sometimes it's better to pay a little more to get quality that will last you a long time.
It's not always right to struggle by trying to make something for the budget just to save some money. This thing is simply fantastic, and if you're on a budget, it's definitely worth the money.
Protecting Strawberries from Pests in Ground and Container Gardening Strawberries
My row of strawberries on my land is also doing great. I think it's because of the black landscape fabric, which has holes cut into it. It helps retain moisture, even if it hasn't rained or been watered recently.
It also helps with weeds, though not as well. I still have weeds coming through the landscape fabric. Weeds always find a way!
In fact, I have an aggressive vine weed that keeps growing. It must have a very deep root system, and it literally chokes out every plant around it. I don't like it at all.
I think I will uproot or dig up all these strawberries and put them in my second leaf greenstock. Will probably do a raised bed or something here to avoid dealing with this weed, as it is quite aggressive and I don't like it.
How to protect container gardening strawberries from pests is an important question. A big advantage of growing in containers is that you can keep your plants away from soil pests. However, you still have to be careful of ants and other flying insects. Using natural pesticides or spraying organic solutions like neem oil can help.
Advantages of tower gardens and container gardening strawberries on the balcony
If you don't like bending over to harvest like me, you can definitely consider the option of a tower garden. This makes it much easier to prune, weed, harvest and keep them clean. (Try this: How to grow radishes indoors without soil)
Container gardening strawberries on a balcony is also a great option, especially if you live in an urban area. Do container strawberries need full sun? Yes, strawberries need at least 6 hours of sunlight for a good crop. So use the sunniest part of your balcony. I'm losing a lot of worms down here, and many of them are half-eaten. I am feeding these half-eaten strawberries to my chickens in my backyard chicken run.
Best Soil and Fertilizer for Container Gardening Strawberries
Another thing that I think was helpful about setting up this greenstock leaf planter is that each of these pockets was filled with compost from our chicken run. (How to compost at home for plants)
It is very deep and rich in nitrogen from chicken excrement, which has been composted. It is full of so many nutrients that is how big these strawberry leaves are. They are very healthy and not struggling at all.
What is the best soil for container gardening strawberries? A well-drained soil that is slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.5). I use a mixture of compost, peat moss and perlite in my soil. How to Fertilize Container Gardening Strawberries? I give a light liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks, specially formulated for fruits. (More: Best microgreens to grow at home)
So it is very important that you add good soil to these tower gardens so that they do not struggle. You don't want to add just any kind of soil. If you have to buy from the store, make sure you're putting in something that has a lot of nutrients, or at least you're adding some kind of nutrient, nitrogen, to get good leafy growth and good growth from these berries.
How to keep container gardening strawberries in winter
Do you know how to winterize container gardening strawberries? It depends on the climate of your area. In colder regions, you can move your containers into a garage or shed, or cover them with straw or leaves. In hot areas, you can leave them outside, but make sure they are protected from excessive heat. (Helpful: Indoor avocado tree care tips)
Can I Grow Container Gardening Strawberries Indoors? Yes, if you have a bright window or grow lights. However, you may need artificial pollination, as pollinating insects do not occur indoors.
Conclusion and DIY planter ideas for container gardening strawberries
Hope you enjoyed it and found some useful information about container gardening strawberries. If you're looking for DIY strawberry planter ideas, old gutters, buckets, or even old shoes can become creative containers for growing strawberries! (Also read: How to grow mushrooms in a jar at home | Grow cilantro indoors | How to grow sprouts at home from seeds)
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can strawberries grow in containers?
Yes, strawberries grow very well in containers, especially if the container is deep enough and placed in full sunlight.
What is the best container for growing strawberries?
Tower-style containers like the Greenstock Leaf Planter are ideal for strawberries due to their depth and vertical growing design.
How often should container strawberries be watered?
In summer, strawberries should be watered daily. In cooler weather, every 2-3 days is sufficient, depending on soil moisture.
What soil is best for container strawberries?
Use well-drained soil rich in organic compost with a slightly acidic pH (5.5–6.5). A mix of compost, peat moss, and perlite works best.
Can strawberries be grown indoors in containers?
Yes, with a bright window or grow lights, strawberries can be grown indoors. Manual pollination may be needed.