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Video: Follow These Easy Steps And Learn How To Grow Strawberries In Pots
2024 Author: Lynn Laird | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:31
The beautiful days are coming back and we all can't wait to go for a walk in the park or even to go out on the balcony and feel the caress of the first warm rays of the sun. But the new rhythm of life has an influence not only on humans but also on the flora and fauna which in turn wake up to revel in the energy of spring. So, what could be better than welcoming the season of renewal on the balcony, in the company of the household or a few friends? And, to make this experience even more enjoyable, sipping freshly made fruity summer cocktails is the process that comes to mind first. What if we were the ones who grew these fruits? Follow our tips and find out how to grow potted strawberries on the balcony!
Why and how to grow strawberries in pots on your balcony?
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, growing fruit on the balcony is as simple and interesting a task as it is super ecological. Having a small orchard at hand is a real art in itself, which has never been so popular. The good news is that container gardening goes well with growing flowers, for example. Aromatic herbs are also an excellent companion for fruits and vegetables to be grown in pots, and bring irresistible scents to our spaces. Without a doubt, the biggest advantage of this type of production is the absence of chemicals. So we keep a close eye on the whole cultivation process until the same moment we see our own fruit arriving on our plates. Now it's up to you to find out why and how to grow potted strawberries on the balcony!
Create a mini strawberry garden on the balcony
Did you know that strawberries are one of the most popular fruits grown both in orchards and in pots? This should come as no surprise as these small red fruits are suitable for cultivation in any temperate region of the world. In addition, strawberries are undemanding and can be grown both in small containers and in large plots of land. They are therefore perfect for creating a mini orchard on the balcony.
Full of vitamins and colors, strawberries are planted either in autumn or in spring. The market is full of varieties that will delight the whole family, especially children.
Before embarking on the explanation, it is very important to differentiate between the two most common varieties. These are the receding strawberries, whose fruits are less numerous, and occur from June to October, and the non-ascending strawberries, whose abundant quantity of fruits is impressive. The second variety produces strawberries in the period end of May-beginning of July. So, we make our choice according to our harvest expectations.
How to grow strawberries in pots: must-have criteria
As already mentioned, choosing the right variety of strawberry plant is the most important criteria to take into account before embarking on fruit cultivation. Then, it is very important to choose the right planting system. The preparation of the chosen ground, in this case the pots or containers, is essential for the plants to feel comfortable there. Planting, caring for, and harvesting berries are also some of the considerations for successful growing strawberries in pots.
A crucial step in successfully growing strawberries in pots, choosing the right location is a matter not to be taken lightly. Sunlight is the must factor for strawberries to produce great yields. So choosing a location with little shade is more than recommended.
What are the right conditions?
As already mentioned, strawberries adapt wonderfully well to most conditions. The same goes for soils. However, strawberries will feel best in deep, sandy soils saturated with organic matter. To enrich the potting soil in a pot, just add a little fresh compost to the surface.
To answer the question "how to grow strawberries in pots", it is imperative to mention a third factor concerning the cultivation, namely soil drainage. It is important to keep in mind that strawberry plants will definitely rot if left in standing water. Although they need constant moisture, young strawberries will appreciate well-drained soil. This explains why growing in pots or in raised beds is so popular.
Note that post-planting care is also very important for successfully growing potted strawberries on the balcony. And the protection of plants and berries is among the determining steps that cannot be improvised. So a pot of strawberries, covered with sweet berries, only tempt birds and slugs. So you have to be cunning a little to be able to protect your strawberries and react to unexpected attacks.
What post-planting care?
How to proceed ? To win the fight against the birds, you can cover the plants with anti-bird netting, or even with mesh baskets. Have you heard of copper slug tape? Natural repellent against slugs and snails, copper (in the form of adhesive tape, net or rings) is an excellent ally in the fight against this type of gastropods.
Due to their small size and sweet fruit, strawberries are a great choice for our balcony orchards. Soil-less cultivation makes it possible to plant strawberries in classic pots, or to favor other types of containers. So, for example, strawberries can be grown in hanging baskets, in a raised square or in a strawberry fountain. The higher the levels, the greater the fruit yields will be. Of course, the type of container to choose depends mainly on the space available on the balcony as well as the amount of light available.
How to grow strawberries in pots: additional recommendations
Be aware that strawberries do not last forever and the plants wear out quickly. They must be renewed after a few years: from 2 to 3 years for varieties which produce fruit several times a year, and 5 years for varieties which produce only once a year.
Although their lifespan is limited, strawberries are easy to reproduce. This is done via runners (small branches creeping at ground level). First, it is necessary to cut and throw away the most fragile which only exhaust the foot. The strongest runners are kept and left attached to the foot. This is put in a jar for a few weeks. At the end of this period, the runners should be cut and replanted the following spring.
To allow your strawberry plants to grow strong and able to nourish the fruit, it is necessary to cut the white flowers during the first bloom. This means that, during the first year, we will deprive ourselves of all the flowers of the varieties grown around the month of June. For the other varieties, the flowers are cut until mid-July. Then we let the flowers turn into fruit.
As logic dictates, there are varieties that are better suited to balcony cultivation than others. By way of example, we can list the varieties as: “Mars of the woods”, “Vivarosa”, “Rabunda”, “Everest” or the “Queen of the Valleys”. It should be remembered that strawberries like to be accompanied by various aromatic plants such as basil, for example, which varies the plant compositions and brings variety to the balcony.
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