Top 8 tips for growing strawberries in containers 

Always dreamed of growing your own strawberries? Tight on space to grow? Growing strawberries in containers may be the solution for you! With some attention and care, you can grow strawberries no matter what space you have to grow in. In today’s guide, we walk you through how to get started growing strawberries in containers. So grab your gardening gloves, and let’s dig!

One: Variety selection

There are many different varieties of strawberries that you can grow in containers. Some will produce one harvest all at once. Others will produce harvests over several months or weeks. It depends on your personal preference. Knowing the different types of strawberries is the first step to getting started. Here is a quick list of common strawberry plants available to home gardeners:

June berries

June-bearing strawberries produce a harvest of large, juicy berries. They are very popular among home gardeners. June-bearing plants typically produce their fruit in early summer. The harvests will last a few weeks. To continue the harvest, select a combination of early, mid-season, and late varieties.

Day neutral berries

These berries are smaller than other varieties like June berries and everbearing. They produce a moderate amount of fruit from late spring to early fall.

Everbearing

Common in home gardens, these berries will produce smaller harvests throughout the season. Everbearing strawberries benefit from some winter protection like straw or mulch.

Two: Avoid overcrowding

Since containers are often limited on space, avoid overcrowding your strawberry plants. As a general rule, do not plant more than 3 plants for every square foot of soil. Overcrowd your plants, and you will get a lot of leaves, but few berries. Give your plants some space to grow, and they will reward you with a great harvest.

Three: Trim back runners

As strawberry plants grow, they will send out runners. Runners help strawberry plants reproduce over time. Runners are helpful for in-ground gardens, but not so much for growing in containers. If allowed to grow and flow out of your garden, runners will suck energy from the main plant. By trimming back the runners, your plants will produce a better yield of strawberries.

Four: Water regularly

When strawberries are grown in containers, they will need to be watered regularly. Too dry, and you risk the plant being stressed. Too much water and root rot could set in. In the hot summer months, try watering 2-3 times a day with a light watering. It is better to water with less water more frequently than to drown your plants with too much water. Avoid your plants drying out or being too wet. The ideal conditions for your soil is to be damp, not soaking wet. If strawberry plants sit in too much water, deadly diseases can form and kill your plants.

Five: Choose the right container

Selecting the right container is important when growing strawberries. Containers for planting come in a variety of different materials and shapes. When selecting a container, make sure it has proper drainage. If your container has no drainage holes, your plants might get too much water. If your plant is soaked, it will become stressed. A stressed plant will be vulnerable to bacterial diseases. Choose a container with proper drainage already or add the drainage holes yourself. Either way, you will ensure that your plants stay healthy and happy in their new home.

Choosing a container made out of the right material is also important. Terra cotta pots often look nice, but they tend to dry out too quickly. With these pots, you will have to keep an eye on the moisture of your soil. Too dry of soil will not lead to a productive harvest of strawberries. A plastic container might be a better option here for you, as long as it is food safe to grow in. Plastic will hold in the moisture better, but you will still have to be careful not to overwater. Other options include cloth bags, hanging deck planters, or stackable strawberry planters. No matter which style you choose, always keep watering and drainage in mind!

Six: Choose a balanced blend of soil

A balanced blend of potting mix and compost will help your strawberries thrive in containers. We like to use a 50-50 blend of potting mix and compost. You can often buy a pre-mixed blend at most garden centers or nurseries, or you can try making your own. Adding in a little starter fertilizer will also help to keep your strawberries healthy throughout the season. If new to planting strawberries, try a slow-release fertilizer. These fertilizers will feed your plants for up to three months.

Seven: Protect your harvest from pests and critters

To help protect your harvest from pests and critters, you can use bird netting over your plants. This is usually more of a problem with in-ground strawberries. However, it can also happen with strawberries grown in containers. Netting is usually just a temporary measure while the strawberries are producing fruit.

Eight: Caring for container strawberry plants in winter

If you live in a northern zone like us, your container strawberries will need some extra care over winter. When they are dormant, move your strawberries to an unheated garage or basement. Be sure to check them regularly while indoors and water as necessary. If you don’t want to bring them indoors, you can also plant your strawberries directly in the ground over winter. Be sure to cover them with some protection with either straw or shredded leaf mulch.

Final thoughts

Growing strawberries in containers is easy and possible with a little extra care. If you’ve always wanted to try and never had the chance, make this season the time to get started. Growing strawberries in containers is a great space saving strategy. It also makes a great focal point for the patio.

Are you growing strawberries in containers this year? If so, share a comment below or drop a photo over on our socials. We always love to hear from you and see what you are up to in your own gardens! Until next time gardening friends, try growing strawberries in containers this year. Who knows, it just might become your go-to method!