MATERIALS NEEDED
everbearing strawberry plants peat-based soilless potting mix strawberry pot or suitable container timed-release fertilizer, optional
STEP ONE
Choose a suitable everbearing strawberry variety for your area. If you're in doubt call the local cooperative extension office for information. Or ask other gardeners in the area what varieties they use.
Seeds for Mignonette Alpine strawberry are available from Renee's Garden. This plant is perfect for containers.
STEP TWO
Buy a peat-based potting soil, or mix your own. The best are soilless mixes containing peat, vermiculite, perlite, and similar ingredients. Strawberries prefer a well-drained soil, and some of the soil-based potting mixes I've bought in the past didn't have good drainage.
If you prefer, use a coir-based soilless potting mix. These do dry out more quickly than peat-based materials, so the container may need watering more often.
Be sure your soil mix is sterilized properly if you mix your own.
STEP THREE
Choose a suitable container. Strawberry jars with pouches on the sides for plants are most commonly used. Some of these jars are terra cotta, while others are plastic. Gardener's Supply sells a self-watering strawberry pot kit complete with soilless potting mix and fertilizer. (According to the catalog, this container garden can yield up to 300 strawberries per season.)
There are other choices besides the traditional strawberry jar or pot. The plastic flower pouches work very well for strawberries. The most popular brand seems to be Al's Flower Pouches. Raintree sells one, called the blossom bag. According to the catalog, the bag has space for twelve plants.
Some garden centers and chain stores also sell hanging strawberry basket kits. This box contains everything you need. There's an eight-inch hanging basket, Pro Mix potting soil, and three Ozark Beauty everbearing strawberry plants.
The Stark catalog has a Growing Tower for strawberries. This is a coco fiber mat container with holes along the sides for the strawberry plants. The container is held inside a heavy-duty coated steel frame. The kit is sold with 25 Eversweet everbearing strawberry plants.
STEP FOUR
Using a clean, sterile bucket or other suitable container, add enough water to get your soilless potting mix thoroughly moistened. I wear rubber gloves for this job. This step is especially important if you are using a peat-based mix, since peat can absorb a lot of moisture. Add the time-release fertilizer at the recommended rate if you're using it. Some gardeners may prefer to use water-soluble fertilizers.
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