How do I grow strawberries in the garden or in pots on the balcony in the garden?
Strawberries are one of the most beloved, delicate and therefore expensive fruits. But the news is good.
Strawberries are a relatively easy to grow fruit that will reward the amateur gardener. You can grow it in the garden, on the balcony or even indoors!
You can start growing your own strawberries by starting with seeds or ready-made seedlings that you can find at nurseries.
Starting strawberries from seeds
Of course, initially, you will need to buy or purchase strawberry seeds. You can sow them practically whenever you want, as long as you ensure the right conditions for your plants afterwards.
But there is a secret to starting strawberries from seed. You need to refrigerate them for 4 weeks before you plant them. If you don’t, the seeds won’t germinate!
After you get your hands on the seeds, wrap them in a paper towel, put the paper towel inside a plastic bag and put them in the fridge for 4 weeks.
After 4 weeks, take them out of the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature. When thawing is complete, they are ready for planting.
Plant the seeds in seed trays, egg trays, plastic cups, or whatever medium you have available.
The soil in which to plant the seeds should be light. Strawberries prefer loose and thin soil. You can use compost, a special seedling mix or a combination of the above. You will find them in agricultural stores.
Place the nursery with the strawberry seeds in a place that gets sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours a day, or use artificial light.
When the seeds have germinated and you have the seedlings ready, you can transplant them to their final location in the garden or in pots.
Starting strawberries from seedlings
You can purchase ready-made strawberry seedlings from your local nurseries. All you will need to do next is plant them in their final location in the garden or in pots.
When to plant strawberries
You can plant strawberry plants in the following seasons:
September: you will have to wait until next spring/summer to get fruit. The advantage of this method is that in between, the plant has enough time to develop a strong root system and is very productive. You will need to take care to protect it from winter frosts though.
Spring. Choose a place where it gets at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. The production you get will not be the best possible. But wait… Strawberry is a perennial plant that propagates itself. Next year you will have a bountiful production.
Suitable strawberry growing conditions
Soil: Strawberries need thin well-drained soil. The ideal pH is between 5.8 and 6.2. DO NOT plant strawberries in a place where tomatoes, potatoes, peppers or eggplants were previously grown. This is because there is a risk of disease transmission. Enrich the soil with compost or other organic fertilizers. In winter, protect the roots by adding straw or organic matter (grass clippings, leaves, etc.) to the soil surface
Sun. If you have planted the strawberries indoors, then you should have them near a window that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight a day or use artificial lighting for 6-8 hours a day.
Watering-Water: Strawberries have a shallow root system. Practically this means that they need to be watered regularly. If your plants have very small leaves or don’t produce many strawberries, it’s a sign of a lack of water. Water so that the soil is always moist but not soggy.
Temperature: Strawberries don’t like very hot climates and high temperatures. The ideal temperature range for strawberries is between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius.
Strawberry varieties
There are basically 3 varieties of strawberries.
June Bearing. The production period lasts 2 to 3 weeks.
This variety’s specialties are:
- Allstar
- Annapolis
- Brunswick
- Cabot
- Chandler
- Cornwall
- Cavendish
- Darselect
- Delmarvel
- Earliglow
- Honeoye
- Jewel
- Kent
- L’Amour
- Lateglow
- Mesabi
- Mic Mac
- Mohawk
- Northeaster
- Sable
- Seneca
- Sparkle
- Sweet Charlie
- Veestar
- Winona
Everbearing: has 2 to 3 productive seasons each year. Produces strawberries in spring, summer and fall.
This variety’s specialties are:
- Fort Laramie
- Quinault
Day Neutral: produces strawberries throughout the production period. The strawberries produced are smaller than other varieties.
This variety has the following specialties:
- Seascape
- Selva
- Tribute and Tristar
Sources:
Tags: BALCONY • CULTIVATE • CULTIVATION • POT • SEEDS • STRAWBERRIES • STRAWBERRY • VARIETIES
