Not everyone knows that growing strawberries in pots is not that difficult. Our article with a photo will tell you about all the nuances. Strawberries are an incredibly tasty and healthy berry that everyone loves. Buying strawberries in the store is not always profitable, it is better to plant it yourself. It does not matter if you do not have a personal plot. You can grow strawberries on the windowsill in the most ordinary pot.
This is very convenient, since the bush will not take up much space, and for greater space savings, you can pick up special two- or three-level containers.
If you like this idea, get down to business.
How to grow strawberries in a pot
Choosing the Right Variety
The first thing that should be given due attention is the strawberry variety. Not everyone can grow in a pot, because most species are already adapted for growing in the fresh air. But there are special varieties called remontant. Outwardly, they are no different from the usual strawberries, but bear fruit twice a year. With good care - even more.
In turn, the repair strawberry is divided into two subspecies. The first includes bushes that bear fruit with long daylight hours. With them you will collect two crops every year. But the second one, one that can bloom even with a neutral daylight, perfectly bears fruit for almost a year - about 10 months. This is good, because you can enjoy your favorite berries at any time, but there are also disadvantages. The bushes get very tired during this period and with insufficient feeding and care can die.
Pay special attention to the choice of container in which the bush will grow. It can be both plastic pots and wooden boxes. It is better to stop on the second option, since the tree will give the roots the opportunity to breathe. But an ordinary pot with good drainage is a great alternative to this. This plant does not tolerate stagnation of water, so the addition of drainage is simply necessary in any container.
The minimum container volume per bush is 3 liters. Most varieties do not tolerate transplanting, so they will have to grow for about three years in one place. In this regard, it is better to take a pot with a margin, but not too large. If you do not plant in pots, but in large containers, also consider this. The distance between the bushes should be at least 20 centimeters.
Please note that holes must be present in the container through which water and drainage will drain. Pebbles, crushed bricks, expanded clay are well suited for this. For planting, use the universal flower mix from the store.
Be sure to feed strawberries in pots about 1 time in 2 weeks with complex or organic fertilizers. Most of all, the plant needs additional vitamins during flowering and fruit ripening. But in winter, fertilizing can be suspended, since the bush is in a sleeping state.
For planting strawberries, both ready seedlings and seeds are suitable. The first option is faster, and the second is more reliable, because you will definitely know which grade you get. It is better to grow from seeds in long boxes. In them, half the volume is filled with earth and filled with water. Seeds are laid out on top. Next, we create the greenhouse effect - we cover it with film or glass. Do not forget about soil moisture. After the appearance of the first shoots, the film or glass must be removed. When you see the leaves - you can transplant into pots.
Planting seedlings is as follows.We take a suitable pot, pour the earth (it should be quite loose), make a deepening. We prepare a bush - with the help of a secateurs we slightly cut the roots and soot. Then we well moisten the soil and put it in a warm place.
Recommended to find out reviews about the strawberry variety "Elizabeth".
Further care for potted strawberries
Planted strawberries should be pruned regularly. When growing from seeds, when five leaves appear, the three lower ones are plucked. When you reach 10 centimeters, you need to trim the top. The antennae also need to be removed, since they spend too much energy. Remember that after each pruning, the plant needs to be fed. Watering strawberries is often, but moisture should not stagnate. From this, mold appears, which blocks the flow of air. In this case, the bush simply suffocates and dies.
The main problem when growing strawberries in pots is pollination. In most cases, this happens manually. Take a brush (cotton swab), moisten it a little and several times pass on the pistils and stamens.
Have strawberries planted in tiered pots? Watch the fruits, if there are a lot of them, they will fall and injure the branches. Especially if you grow a variety with large berries. If this is an ordinary flower pot or box, do not worry, all the fruits will neatly lie on the windowsill.
Love strawberries, then devote some time to it and you can enjoy the aromatic fruits when your heart desires. Growing these berries on a windowsill is no more difficult than growing on a garden bed; you only need to follow the recommendations.
We also recommend reading how to care for strawberries in the spring to get a good harvest.
When to plant strawberries for seedlings from seeds in 2019
What month is better to choose for a strawberry transplant in the fall
How to cover strawberries for the winter
Proper care and pruning strawberries in the fall in the suburbs
Vera
I tried at home to grow in boxes, it turns out, but still you can’t grow a lot of it, and I did chicken feeding, I just need to be very careful not to burn.