Growing Pepper and Strawberries

[Ov3rkill]

Hello,

I am new to gardening and have recently become interested in growing 2 different things. As you can see from my title I am currently interested in both of these fruits and wanted to see if they were both capable of being grown in pots? I don't have space to plant them on ground but, I do have enough space for them to receive hours of sunlight outside. From the experience you guys have gathered could anybody please suggest how big pots I should get? I want to grow either habanero or jalapeño peppers and idk what type of strawberries yet, also has any had any success with seeds from ebay?

[Kisal]

Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you found us!

Just about any vegetable or small fruit can be grown in a container, as long as the proper care is provided. For that matter, you can even grow dwarf fruit trees in containers. There are dwarf fruit trees that produce full-sized fruit.

One thing to consider about strawberries is that they generally stop bearing when the temperatures get high, so you will want to plan your planting schedule around the weather in your area.

Here are links to a couple of useful Extension Service articles that provide information about container sizes, soil volume, and other details that you need to know in order to get a good crop:

Growing Vegetables in Containers

Growing Small Fruits for the Home Garden

[Ov3rkill]

thanks for the reply Kisal, I had no idea regarding the dwarf fruit trees, im going to look into that. Would you have any idea if peppers grow all yea round? Also as far as the strawberries im in Miami so its get hot down here, would you suggest that I start doing everything due to hurricane season coming to an end like in 1 month a half so by the time winter comes it wont be that hot? or does it depend on the type of strawberry?

[CharlieBear]

Peppers are perennials where they originated, so if they don't get killed by frost they will over winter. You will have to prune them back some each year. Some people in the desert SW for example have had them live for 5-6 years at a stretch, same with some types of tomatoes.
In the event of a hurricane, of course bring the pots indoors. Note generally you will have the best luck with peppers in larger self-watering pots. The mix needs to be high in nutrients in the middle range of the n-p-k if you think of fertilizer to flower well. Don't get the soil too high in nitrogen or you will get very big plants and very few if any peppers. Keep the plants evenly moist if they are not in self-watering plants.
As for strawberries you will have to grow the low sugar variety that the growers grow possibly. Note strawberries are generally grown as an annual in the state of Florida because of the excessive winter heat and yes they do quite well in pots, but again not too heavy on the nitrogen and self watering works well for them as well.
As for dwarf trees, generally people are talking about the altra dwarf patio fruit trees. There are many in existance by only a few are generally available from any given grower. You can google patio fruit trees or ultra dwarf, but generally they are marketed as patio, even tho they are altra dwarfs in the trade.
Note, not all dwarf fruit trees will do well there due to your excessive summer temps and humidity. Check with you extention first.

[Ov3rkill]

thanks for the tip charlie, I passed by lowes and I saw a few fruit plants and I did see a habanero and jalapeno plant there. I was really interested in growing it from seed, but for now im just going to buy one already sprouted and just place it in one of my own pots. From anyones knowledge around how big of a pot should I get for the pepper? I saw some 6" pots in target for like 39 cents but I think they might be too small. Also do you have any recommendations on what type of potting soil and fertilizer I should use? as far as brands are concerned. One more thing before I forget do limes grow year round or no?