Why Grow Strawberries in Hanging Baskets?

Gardeners who opt to grow strawberries in hanging baskets can enjoy delicious fruits while sidestepping many of the issues that can plague ground-grown strawberry plants, such as soil-borne diseases and pesky pests.

Hanging baskets are also perfect for day-neutral varieties like Tribute and Evie-2 strawberries that produce consistent harvests throughout summertime.

Planting

Growing strawberries in hanging baskets provides many advantages for gardeners of all ages and abilities. Doing so helps prevent insect infestations and soil-borne diseases that threaten traditional garden beds; while also making strawberry cultivation accessible to gardeners with limited space. By using netting and mulch together to keep birds away from picking the ripened fruit; while increasing air circulation around strawberry plants which helps decrease disease issues such as mildew.

To maximize success, choose a large and sturdy hanging basket capable of housing all of the plants you plan to plant. Also ensure that there is adequate sunlight available – strawberry plants require lots of it as herbaceous perennials! Aim for an area that gets between 6-10 hours of direct sun per day when selecting an area to plant them in.

Strawberry plants require ample drainage in order to flourish; otherwise they risk becoming waterlogged and hindered in their growth. Before planting, amend the soil using either commercial potting mix or your own homemade mix composed of two parts compost, one part coco coir (or another peat substitute) and one part vermiculite or perlite.

Once strawberry plants are planted, it’s essential that they receive ample irrigation during dry weather or when young. Mulching the planting area with straw or shredded leaves will help conserve moisture while also discouraging weed growth.

Everbearing strawberry varieties such as ‘Mignonette’ produce small, firm berries with intense flavor that thrive when grown in hanging baskets with cascading stems to form decorative displays of bright red foliage and ripening fruit. Other popular everbearing hanging basket varieties are Quinalt and Ruegen, both of which tolerate heat well while not offering the same cold hardiness as June-bearing varieties.

Light

Strawberry plants need plenty of sunlight in order to produce large and juicy berries, yet growing them in hanging baskets allows gardeners with limited space or small-scale planting areas to still enjoy its fruits while adding visual interest and increasing visual appeal in outdoor spaces.

Hanging strawberry planters should be placed in locations with plenty of light, such as south-facing porch awnings or patios. If the area features any north-facing elements that cast shade onto them, moving or growing in larger pots may be required instead. It is also important to ensure adequate air circulation to reduce mildew formation which could otherwise arise if strawberries don’t receive sufficient light and ventilation.

To maximize strawberry yields, select varieties that remain compact and produce consistent fruit throughout the summer. Alpine, day-neutral and everbearing strawberries are excellent choices for container gardening as they do not produce runners – diverting more energy toward flower production instead. This ultimately results in larger harvests of delicious, ripe berries! Avoid June-bearing varieties which produce only one large crop at first then stop producing altogether.

Strawberry plants growing in hanging baskets require frequent watering during the hot months of summer. To prevent waterlogging and reduce risk, opt for a porous basket liner or create your own DIY potting mix by mixing two parts compost, two parts coconut coir (or an alternative peat alternative), and one part perlite/vermiculite.

Hanging strawberry planters can be overwintered indoors if kept cool, dry and fed throughout winter. Once frost has passed, take the plant outdoors into an area with good air circulation to encourage pollination and growth; once successful overwintered plants start producing fruit within their first year!

Water

Strawberry plants need loose, well-draining soil in which their roots can flourish and produce juicy berries. Most garden plants can tolerate using soil mixes without too much organic matter or additives; however, hanging baskets require rich potting mixes that release nutrients gradually for maximum benefit.

Due to their shallow roots and limited amount of soil, strawberry plants in hanging baskets require frequent watering to remain healthy and sustainable. As these plants tend to dry out before gardeners can even notice, regular monitoring is essential – sticking a finger into the soil and checking its moisture level are the keys. Coconut coir liner soil makes an excellent base for hanging basket strawberry gardens.

Hanging strawberry plants face similar problems as their ground counterparts: crown rot and leaf spot. To reduce these problems, keep strawberries off of soil by using a light mulch layer that keeps moisture levels optimal in the soil.

Hanging strawberry plants at an appropriate height keeps them out of reach of most pests; however, birds may take advantage of their position to steal fruit from baskets, and it is therefore crucial that netting be put up over them to protect ripening berries from being taken by birds.

To facilitate pollination and fruit set, place strawberry hanging baskets near other spring flowering plants that attract bees – the primary pollinators of strawberries. If possible, position day-neutral everbearing strawberries in direct sunlight while alpine types need six-8 hours of sun per day; otherwise they won’t grow tall as fast or produce as many berries. In warmer climates, hanging strawberry plants require at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day in order to flourish properly and produce as many berries.

Fertilization

As with all container plants, strawberries require regular fertilization in order to grow robustly and produce large, delectable fruit. Ken’s offers an assortment of strawberry fertilizers; just be sure to read and follow any applicable package directions carefully as too much fertilizer could result in excessive foliage growth at the expense of fruit production if applied too heavily. Monitor your strawberry plants closely so as to only apply recommended amounts when fertilizing your strawberry plants.

Compost should always be added to a planting hole when transplanting strawberry plants as it helps with soil nutrition by gradually feeding their roots as they form. When growing strawberries in hanging baskets it is also best to forgo traditional fertilizers which provide too much initial power, leading them to cease blooming altogether and produce foliage instead.

It’s often recommended to combine potting mix and organic compost when planting strawberry plants, to provide them with optimal conditions and slow-release nutrients. An added layer of straw mulch around them can keep their shallow root system covered, suppress weeds and protect them in winter.

Fertilize your strawberry plants twice monthly until blooming begins, then every ten days throughout summer to avoid overfertilization. For optimal results, choose either a controlled-release liquid fertilizer or granular formula which releases its nutrients slowly. It’s essential that after fertilization watering occurs immediately so rotting berries can be removed quickly; additionally pruning will reduce harvest amounts as long stemmed runners form as left alone they could lead to disease in other strawberry plants and threaten harvests altogether.

Pruning

Pruning strawberry plants in hanging baskets is key to their health and yield; its aim should be to keep the plant producing fruit rather than simply producing more foliage. Over-pruning can damage future flower stalks and decrease yield; to avoid over-pruning, remove diseased leaves as well as any runners that have taken root and remove diseased runners that have already taken hold.

Most strawberries reproduce through above-ground runners that produce tiny baby plants that can be used to propagate more strawberry plants. Although almost all strawberry varieties produce runners in abundance, it’s important to remove them to maximize yields and ensure as much energy is devoted toward fruiting as possible. Strawberry plants only have so much glucose available each day to photosynthesize; their body naturally allocates it among various functions – including flowering and fruiting – with one function using more energy reserves than expected when numerous runners grow on its plants; when this happens it reduces energy that would otherwise go towards fruiting!

Runners can be detrimental to overcrowded strawberry beds, leading to nutrient deficiencies and disease issues. As a rule of thumb, Alpine, everbearing or day-neutral strawberry varieties tend to produce few runners so more resources from the mother plant go directly towards fruit production rather than running away with resources meant for runners.

With proper care and preparation, growing strawberry plants in hanging baskets is an easy and satisfying way to enjoy fresh berries this spring. Choose an easily managed variety like Seascape or ‘Evie-2; make sure it receives adequate light, water and fertilizer; prune as necessary and harvest ripened fruits before they soften further!