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Everyone loves to eat strawberries, and grown with your own hands, they seem even tastier. For those who want to eat berries grown with their own hands, but do not have a garden plot, there is an alternative option - strawberries on the balcony.
This is not only a tasty berry, it also has a lot of other beneficial properties. In terms of vitamin composition, strawberries give odds to overseas fruits. 60 mg per 100 g of vitamin C is more than in lemons. Vitamins A and PP, five types of B vitamins, a lot of calcium and other minerals - these are not all the beneficial substances found in strawberries.
This amazing berry has bactericidal properties and can effectively relieve the skin on the face of acne and inflammation. Anti-sclerotic, diuretic, stabilizing metabolism and pancreatic function - this is an incomplete list of the medicinal effects of strawberries. And its low calorie content - only 41 kcal per 100 g of product - makes it indispensable for dietary nutrition. One problem is that many people are allergic to strawberries. But often it does not appear on the berry itself, but on the harmful substances with which it is processed.If you grow strawberries yourself, then such substances simply cannot be in it.
How to grow strawberries on the balcony? This process cannot be called simple and easy. But if all conditions are met, it is quite possible to harvest strawberries on the balcony.
Components of a balcony garden bed
- Balcony facing south. Of course, not everyone has it, but you shouldn’t give up on the idea for this reason. It is not difficult to equip the lighting; the plants will be quite comfortable with it.
- Containers for growing strawberries. There are many options here, ranging from ordinary balcony boxes to a horizontal bed on hydroponics. Each method has its own characteristics.
The experience gained over time will allow you to increase the number of plants and the harvest you will receive.
Horizontal containers
The simplest structure is a balcony box in which flowers are usually grown. When planting strawberries in boxes, keep a distance of 25 cm between plants.
At the bottom, as in all other cases, you need to put drainage.
Strawberries on the balcony in PVC pipes are another option for horizontal planting. A pipe is chosen with a diameter of at least 20 cm. You can cut holes in it with a diameter of about 10 cm at a distance of 20 cm. Another option is to make a hole along the entire length of the pipe, 10 cm wide. In both cases, the ends of the pipe are provided with plugs.
Vertical containers
There is more variety here. What gardeners don’t use for vertical beds. They're imprisoning strawberries in bags made of black or other dark spunbond with holes made in several tiers.
You can sew these bags from black polyethylene or use ready-made ones. Just don't forget to make drain holes in them. They are hung on walls or from the ceiling. You can place pots of different diameters one on top of the other and build a pyramid out of them.
Strawberries are quite comfortable in such pots.
It is very convenient to use PVC pipes with holes made in them for vertical beds. Their diameter is the same as for a horizontal bed, but they need to be arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The lower part is equipped with a plug; gravel drainage is poured into it to a height of 10 cm.
You can plant strawberries in ordinary hanging flowerpot, but with a volume of at least 3 liters. Strawberries grow well on the balcony even in plastic containers bottles. Its volume should not be less than 5 liters, the top of the bottle should be cut off, and holes should be made in the bottom with a hot nail to drain excess water. It is better to put a small layer of drainage on the bottom, about 5 cm.
The volume of the bottles may be smaller, but in this case they are placed horizontally, and a hole for landing is made in the side. Warning! Holes need to be made at the bottom for water drainage.
Soil is a very important component. The future harvest will ultimately depend on the composition of the soil. Since strawberries will grow in a small volume of soil, the soil needs to be sufficiently nutritious. It should hold moisture well, be loose and well saturated with air. Soil acidity is an important indicator.Strawberries, unlike most garden crops, tolerate slightly acidic soil and grow best in such soil.
Composition of soil for balcony berries
- Chernozem or turf soil - 3 parts.
- Sand – 1 part.
- Humus – 1 part.
It is this soil that meets all the requirements for successfully growing tasty berries.
Growing conditions on the balcony
Strawberries are not capricious berries, but they require certain conditions to grow.
Light
It is very important for strawberries. If there is insufficient lighting, the harvest may not wait. The bushes will stretch out and their growth will slow down. On the southern balcony there is enough light for plants. For all others, you will have to illuminate the strawberries either part of the day or the whole day if the balcony faces north. Photoluminescent lamps are best suited for illumination, but they are not cheap. A budget option is fluorescent or LED lamps.
Feeding
Growing strawberries in a confined space requires frequent fertilizing, since strawberries, especially remontant ones, remove a lot of nutrients from the soil. Top dressing can be both root and foliar. The latter can be used only before flowering begins. It is necessary to feed strawberries with a complex fertilizer with microelements in order to provide the plants with adequate nutrition.
It is better to reduce the concentration by half of the recommended norm, but feed more often - once every ten days. After fertilizing, watering should follow.
Watering erodes the soil, so it would be a good idea to add a handful of humus to each plant once a month, evenly distributing it over the surface.
Watering
Growing strawberries on the balcony is impossible without watering, but if there is excessive moisture, the roots can rot and the berries can develop gray rot. How to determine the need for watering? If the soil is dry to a depth of 0.5 cm, it needs to be watered.
Pollination
Self-pollinating varieties of strawberries on the balcony - Lord, Supreme; their cultivation does not require pollination. For other varieties to produce a harvest, a person will have to work hard. Air movement pollinates the bushes well, but in strong winds the strawberries feel uncomfortable. Therefore, it is better not to risk it and pollinate flowers with a brush.
Removing a mustache
The formation of whiskers greatly exhausts the plants; there may be no strength left for the formation of peduncles and the growth of berries. Therefore, it is better to remove unnecessary sockets.
You can also grow borerless remontant strawberries on the balcony. Caring for it is the same as caring for strawberries, and you can get a considerable harvest. Varieties Baron Solemacher, Rügen, Alexandria will delight you with a large number of sweet and fragrant berries. The small size is compensated by abundant fruiting.
If conditions permit, strawberries can be grown on the balcony all year round. But only day-neutral varieties that are less demanding on lighting conditions are suitable for this.
Planting and propagation
Strawberries must be planted correctly.
- Choose only young plants in their first year of life.
- Plant them either in early spring or late summer.
- When planting, do not bend the roots; it is better to trim them a little.
- Do not bury the central heart into the ground, but do not leave the roots exposed.
- Don't forget to water the planted plants.
Strawberries can be propagated by tendrils and seeds. Seed propagation is a labor-intensive process. Berries from such plants can only be obtained in the second year. It is better to purchase mustaches of proven varieties that give the maximum yield under balcony growing conditions.
Strawberry varieties for balcony gardens
Sweetheart
A variety that grows well even in indoor conditions. The berries are not very large, only 12 g, but the variety is practically beardless.
Tribute
American day neutral variety. Fruits well in protected soil. Sweet berries weigh about 20 g. Fruiting is extended.
Conclusion
Making strawberries bear fruit on the balcony is not so easy, but if the berries are grown with your own hands, they are both healthier and sweeter than store-bought ones.
