How To Plant and Grow Strawberries In Containers

Growing strawberries in containers is an easy way to enjoy delicious strawberries without committing to a large garden bed! Learn about planting and growing strawberries in pots... Perfect for growing delicious strawberries in colder climates!

Growing Strawberries In Containers

Just one of the many reasons I look forward to spring each year is for the beautiful, fresh and juicy berries. Typically you can find at least two pints of blueberries and two quarts of strawberries in our refrigerator on any given day.

Occasionally you might also come across a pint of raspberries, but they're usually polished off immediately since they tend to spoil so quickly.

Last year I decided that I wanted to try my hand at growing our own blueberries, so we planted two each of two different varieties of blueberry bushes. It remains to be seen just how well they'll produce this year, but I'm really looking forward to at least a small harvest.

As I was planning out my garden for this year, I started thinking that it might be nice to try growing strawberries. Unfortunately, I don't really have room in my garden bed for them at the moment.

Benefits of Planting Strawberries In Pots

We're planning to add a deck and patio to our backyard this year, so I'm not really sure where the best spot is to put them. I don't want to have to move them again later on, so my solution is to try growing strawberries in a pot!

After doing a little quick research, I discovered that growing strawberries in pots is actually quite common in our gardening zone. It's not unusual for us to see frosts as late as early May, so growing strawberries in a pot makes it very easy to protect the plants from harsh weather by moving them inside.

Best Varieties For Growing Container Strawberries

I picked up these four little Bonnie Allstar strawberry plants in the Walmart Garden Center. These are June-bearing plants that will ripen in late spring/early summer, depending on your zone.

If you prefer a plant that will continue to produce berries all summer long, look for an everbearing variety, like Quinault strawberries. Both are excellent varieties to grow in a container according to the Bonnie Plant website.

Strawberries are a perennial plants, meaning they go dormant over the winter and come back each spring. So my plan is to move them to the garage during our coldest months. Hopefully they will come back even bigger next year!

Best Soil And Pots To Grow Strawberries

Strawberries adapt well to a variety of pots in all shapes and sizes! I recommend you choose based on the number of strawberry plants you want to grow and whether you'll need to move the pot around often.

One of these lightweight tiered planters would be a great choice for growing many plants in a small space. You can even separate the layers to use some for strawberries and some for herbs or other plants.

The gorgeous white ceramic pot I chose was a bit of a splurge at $24.72, but a good planter is worth the investment. With a little care, you can enjoy their beauty for many years.

But if you're looking for a less expensive alternative, I've been very impressed with the Better Homes and Gardens offerings. They have so many stylish and affordable options!

I also picked up a bag of organic potting soil mix and one of these lightweight pot fillers. Yes, I could have skipped the pot filler and saved myself a little money by using rocks to improve the drainage. But knowing that I'll likely be moving this pot around indefinitely makes saving the extra weight seems like a wise idea.

Tips for Growing Strawberries In A Pot

• Choose a pot that's at least 6" deep with a drainage hole. Strawberries need well-drained soil, so this is another good reason to use one of the lightweight pot fillers I mentioned earlier.
• Plant the strawberry plants about 4-6" apart. Remove the plants from their container, separate the roots, and make sure that the crown of the plant is above the soil line.

• If you're planting in early spring, pinch off any flowers or buds so that the fruit doesn't develop too early.
• Place your strawberry pot in a sunny location, and keep the soil consistently moist. Containers tend to dry out much more quickly than garden beds, so check them daily. Moisture is the key to plump, juicy berries!
• Harvest your strawberries when they're fully formed and evenly red, as berries won't continue to ripen once picked.

I'm not expecting a large harvest this year, since retail plants are usually in their first year of growth. But if I have a successful small harvest, I'll definitely be planting a few more containers next year. Can't wait to make some fresh strawberry sauce with them!

Have you successfully grown strawberries in containers? If so, do you have any other tips to share?