strawberrys in containers

[theref2000]

are strawberrys ok to plant in a container.

[hendi_alex]

Strawberry plants are fairly heavy feeders/drinkers and IMO are more of a challenge than some container plants. But with the right sized container and a sufficient supply of water, they will do just fine. I have my best luck gowing about six plants in an approximate 12 inch deep and 12 inch wide by 30 inch long container that holds between two and three cubic feet of soil. That size retains enough water to allow the plants to keep a fairly steady supply. I have a tougher time growing them in the ceramic pots that are made for the purpose. It seems that the configuration is harder to saturate with water and the soil seems to dry out far too rapidly. Probably would do better with some kind of watering tube incorporated down the center of the pot. I would expect a single plant to do fine in a true 1-2 gallon container when placed in full day sun. One gallon nursery containers only work well for me, when placed in morning only sun.

[Lishke]

I planted six strawberry plants in a small hard plastic swimming pool with miracle gro garden soil which is to be mixed with the soil in your planting area. They are doing wonderfully after only three and a half weeks. I have several small berries and lots of blooms.

[hendi_alex]

You won't know whether the berries are doing well in a container, until the heat of summer sets in. Strawberries will do well even in the smallest of containers and even in full sun, during the spring and early summer. Six plants in a small pool should do well if you don't let too many runners set new plants. Even then you may need to move the planter into half day sun in two or three months.

[Annemieke]

When the strawberries get enough water, they will grow fine and you will harvest a lot of berries. But, that is in a warm and dry season like summer quite a challenge. Strawberries needs a lot of water. I use a dripping system for feeding them.

Another thing is that I can't use the plants for a next season, I only use some succesfull runners to set in plants. Keeping the birds away is a next challenge to beat.

Annemieke

[JONA878]

I think there are several things to remember and do if you want your straws to keep going for a few years. Especially if they are contained in pots. Done well a straw plant should give you around four - five years of good cropping.
First is that you must control the runners that the mother plant produces.
Once a fortnight in the summer months look over the plants and cut all runners off. There probably isn't room for them in a pot anyway.
They may be producing more plants for you but they are draining the energy of the mother plant.
If you wish to sacrifice the life expectancy of the cropping plant.......so be it.
Next....and what often is forgotten....remember that once the plant has finished cropping it still needs TLC.
Continue to water and fed it. This will build a good crown for next years crop. In the autumn remove decayed and dying leaves and leave the plant clean and healthy.
You look after her........she'll look after you.