Planting a Strawberry Jar

Posted by Angela England Apr 17, 2007

My son is nearly two and a half now and finding tasks he can do in the garden without doing damage can sometimes be a challenge. See the great "Seed Mishap of 2007" for details on that front.

But when I found an old-fashioned strawberry jar at Wal-Mart I knew this was something we could do together. So on impulse I picked it up along with a nine of the $.88 cent strawberry plants and two herbs as well.

Once home it was simple enough to put the strawberry jar together. First we filled the jar with potting soil level with bottom of the first balcony openings and then I showed my son how to remove the strawberry plants which came out of their pots easily. He could get them in the holes almost completely by himself and of course scooping in more soil to the level of the next highest openings was great fun!

We continued adding soil and plants until all the side openings were full. At the top of the jar I planted the herb plants: sweet basil and sweet marjoram just I would in any regular container. Packed in the last of the soil and we were set!

Then, I let my son water the entire thing with the waterwand slowly (I kinked the hose). I knew, even if he didn't, that watering the strawberry jar too quickly might cause the water to run out of the top level of side openings without seeping down to water the lowest plants. The key to watering strawberry jars is to water often (terra cotta pots can dry out quickly) and water slowly.

The jar is now sitting on a block next to my perennial vegetable bed where it can get plenty of sunshine and I turn the jar every other day to make sure all the plants get enough sun exposure. Already the strawberry plants are growing nicely and beginning to put out delicate looking white flowers that bode well for a future strawberry crop! You can see pictures on my personal Gardening Blog.

Strawberry jars are quick and easy ways to plant a large number of plants, even in a small space. And to have a large amount of fun, even with small kids.

What are you waiting for?