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Prepare the Plants
You can start strawberries from either bare-root crowns or transplants. Transplants will immediately look exuberant and reasonably in containers, but you ‘ll need to wait for dormant bare-root crowns to establish and produce leaves. strawberry plants dislike crowded conditions, so plant merely three strawberry plants per squarely foot of land. Because their roots are fairly shallow, measure the surface sphere of the container to determine area ( angstrom long as the container does n’t taper sharply. )
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Add Soil
Fill the container with a free, loamy potting mix that will hold moisture but cursorily drain away any surfeit body of water. Make certain to use a container with a drain hole in the bottom .
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Plant the Strawberries
Plant the strawberry plants, so their crowns ( the place where the root meets the roots ) are just above the soil coat. Make a little mound in the pot mix, and spread out the roots over the mound. then, cover the roots astir to the peak with the potting shuffle, and water the soil well. Add more pot mix as needed after the land settles from watering, but do not cover the crown with land .
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place the container
Set the batch in a placement that receives at least eight to 12 hours of sun each day to ensure enough of flowers and fruits. If the sunlight is coming from only one management, rotate the container every three to four days if possible for the plants to grow evenly. besides, make certain the plants are protected. merely because the strawberries are in pots does n’t mean pests ca n’t reach them. Insects, birds, and rodents will still be attracted to your plants, so keep them protected with net or fencing material .
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Water the Plants
Water your strawberries whenever the soil feels dry about 1 column inch below the coat, or about twice per week. You do n’t want the plants to be sitting in water or boggy dirty. so make sure the dirty remains slenderly damp—not dry or soggy—to provide the best environment for fruits to form. In general, the dirt in containers dries out faster than the territory on the background. thus, long periods of hot, dry weather might necessitate twice casual water .
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Feed Your Strawberries
Most container plants benefit from some supplementary feeding. Feed your strawberries every three to four weeks with a balance liquid fertilizer. Make sure to apply a poise fertilizer in the fall angstrom well, as the plants will begin forming perennating buds within the peak that will become following class ‘s flowers and fruit .
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Provide Winter Protection
Strawberries produce best if they are allowed to go dormant in winter. however, the roots might freeze in cold areas, and some containers will crack if left out in freezing temperatures. You can move your containers into an unheated garage or under a deck for winter protection. Water alone when the land becomes excessively dry. You besides might be able to mulch up and around the container and leave it in identify .
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Reasons to Grow Strawberries in Containers
Strawberries are a great choice as container plants for a few chief reasons :
- Space: Strawberries are a compact plant, and even gardeners with limited space typically can manage a few pots.
- Beauty: Some varieties of strawberries produce flowers that look like miniature wild roses, making them both aesthetically pleasing and delicious.
- Convenience: You can have pots of strawberries close to your kitchen or outdoor seating area for easy picking.
- Pest, disease, and chemical control: Growing strawberry plants off the ground can help to cut down on pest problems, as well as bacterial and fungal diseases. It’s also easier to prevent unwanted lawn and garden chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, from hitting your plants.
Types of Containers for Growing Strawberries
Whether it is a specialized strawberry pot, a hang basket, or a planter, use a container with good drain. Either respective drain holes at the bottom of the container or multiple holes throughout the container will do .
Strawberries have a relatively small ancestor ball and can be grown in containers vitamin a small as 10 to 12 inches in diameter and 8 inches cryptic. however, the smaller the container, the more frequently you will need to water. If you want to grow June-bearing strawberries, it ‘s best to plant them in a wood-framed raised bed quite than a pot .
furthermore, synthetic pots and light pots will keep the roots cooler than dark colors and natural materials that conduct estrus, such as cadaver and metallic. strawberry plants dislike extremely hot temperatures, so choose for light containers if you live in a hot climate.
When to Replace Strawberries in Pots
even with the best care, strawberries are ephemeral perennials. Your plants probably will need to be replaced approximately every three years when their end product diminishes and they begin to die. however, you can snip the runners and space them out in the pot to create modern strawberry plants for free .