Growing Strawberries Inside: Container Gardening

One of the things that really sucks about living in an apartment is that you cant really have much of a garden. Everything has to be in containers and there has to be space. But most of all you have to have an understanding of the plants that you are trying to grow in a container. Strawberries are one of the delights of summer, fresh sweet strawberries. There isn't too much better on a hot summer day. Living in an apartment, fresh strawberries are something I miss out on. Buying them from the store, results in less then fresh strawberries. Not to mention you don't really know the conditions in which they were grown. But i found a way to not miss out on one of my favorite berries by growing it in containers inside.

You don't really need much to start container gardening. You need a pot, To start with i use a 10 inch pot, often moving up to a larger size as the plants get larger. Soil, I use Miracle grow organics, strawberry plants, i buy mine at a green house, fertilizer, i use miracle grow for veggies, and water. I fertilize my soil before adding in my plants because it gives them a good start.

I started by buying some nice healthy plants from the greenhouse. Mine were smallish, about an inch tall. I used a large 10 inch pot, i wanted them to have some pace to grow into. Filling the pot 3/4s of the way full of soil, i put in the bottom some plant food. I then broke open the plants and covered them in the soil leaving the leafy green above ground. I water them every other day, more often if the soil is dry.

There are a few things to remember when growing a fruit bearing plant like a strawberry. They will flower, but producing the flowers takes allot of nutrients from the plant. Fertilizing is key. And while you do want your plants to produce, it might be a good idea in the beginning to pinch off flowers to give the plant time to establish in the soil. Strawberries are a plant that requires allot of sunlight in order to produce berries. Full sun is best, though they will tolerate moderate shade. The more sun the better, plants will be needed to rotate in order to ensure that all areas have proper sun exposure. Berries are ready to be picked as soon as they are red, ripe, still firm with a slight give, almost like a ripe tomato.

Strawberries can get several types of infestations. Those include red spider mites and aphids, though those aren't often seen inside. Treat with an appropriate pesticide for the bug or find a natural solution. For a home made pesticide i use a solution of soap water, 1 part soap to 15 parts water. It kills off most bugs that i have issues with. And because it is soap it washes off easily. There are of course other natural pesticides.

One final thing to note about strawberries, after they produce fruit they start to put out runners. These are long roots. With those you have two choices, Putting their ends into the soil will result in a new strawberry plant where the runner enters the ground. Or you can clip them and avoid a new plant. In a container you can often root the runner into another pot and when the new plant is established cut the runner between pots.

Strawberries can be a beautiful potted plant. The small flowers resemble a daisy and the leaves are a rich green color. Simply remember the basics, fertilize monthly, water often, keep the soil damp, and as much sun as you can give them and your strawberries will flourish.