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Spring is a joyful and difficult time for gardeners. There will be a lot of work involved in growing seedlings and sowing seeds in the ground. And strawberry lovers often face the question of how and where to place the delicious, aromatic berry. Gardeners do not always have large plots. I want a variety of plants to grow in my dacha. It is difficult to baffle gardeners; they emerge victorious from any situation.
So, with planting fragrant garden strawberries. If there is not enough space on the ground, then you can do growing strawberries in boxes on the street. Beginners are often interested in what containers can be used to plant plants, what kind soil need to be used, what are the features of care.
Advantages and disadvantages
Gardeners quite often plant strawberries in various boxes, buckets, and large flowerpots.
What are the advantages of such a landing:
- Small boxes and buckets are mobile “beds” that can be moved to a new location at any time.
- In autumn, such structures can be placed in a greenhouse or on a window or balcony.
- The berries do not come into contact with the ground, so they get sick less.
- Pests living on the ground (mice, slugs, snails, mole crickets) cannot reach the roots and leaves.
- Picking berries is a pleasant experience, since you don’t have to “bow” before each berry.
Some disadvantages of growing strawberries in boxes and buckets cannot be kept silent. Firstly, it is difficult to regulate watering. Secondly, if the boxes are wooden, then their service life is limited. Thirdly, increased requirements for soil fertility.
Container for planting strawberries
To grow strawberries outside, you can take any boxes. They can be made of wood or plastic. You can use ready-made boxes in which products are delivered to the store. Wooden and plastic containers already have holes for planting seedlings. Some gardeners use old buckets, because you still have to make holes in them.
How do you like this option of using items that are going out of fashion? I just want to say in verse: before, little things were stored in it, but now strawberries grow. An old chest of drawers (pictured below) became a unique garden bed.
Preparing the soil
Strawberries develop quickly; after the first flowering and formation of fruits, a second wave will soon follow. It requires fertile soil to grow. To grow strawberries in boxes and buckets, you need to prepare the soil following the rules:
- A layer of drainage must be placed at the bottom of the containers (up to 25% of the volume of the bucket or box) so that there is no stagnation of water. Otherwise, the root system will begin to rot, which will lead to the death of the strawberries. In addition, the drainage pad allows oxygen to pass through, which is necessary for the harmonious development of plants. Most often crushed stone or gravel is used.
- Strawberries love fertile, loose soil. It is necessary to add sand with large fractions.It is mixed with soil. Thanks to the presence of sand, gas exchange will increase, which contributes to the rapid growth and development of strawberries. You cannot take soil in the place where strawberries used to grow.
- It is necessary to add peat and wood ash to the soil. If there are not enough nutrients in the soil, plants in boxes and buckets may stop growing. Naturally, the berries will be small and tasteless.
- Since remontant strawberry varieties are most often grown in boxes and buckets in order to harvest several times a season, it is necessary to apply nitrogen and ammonia fertilizers before planting. Before planting strawberries, some gardeners add carrots and beets chopped in a blender to the bottom of the holes as a source of sugar. In their opinion, plants take root better.
- Since garden strawberries often suffer from blackleg, the soil must be disinfected by pouring boiling water with dissolved potassium permanganate crystals over it.
- The prepared soil is placed in planting containers and watered with clean water.
Rules for planting strawberries in boxes
When planting strawberries in boxes, use the one-line method. The hole is filled with water and the seedlings are placed in the resulting mud. The roots need to be straightened. Sprinkle dry soil on top and gently press the plant. If this is not done, then there will be no close contact with the ground, this will negatively affect rooting. It’s easy to check whether a plant sits well in the ground: lightly pull the leaves. If the bush has not moved, it means it was planted according to the rules.
Before planting, the roots of the seedlings are trimmed, leaving 5 to 7 cm. This technique provokes the rapid development of lateral roots. The plantings need to be watered and mulched again.
Features of plant care
Growing strawberries in various containers is used by many summer residents. They note that there are no special differences when caring for strawberries. Plantings need to be weeded, loosened, watered and fed.
Although there are nuances that you need to pay attention to:
- Difficulties may arise when watering plants. Soil in wooden or plastic boxes dries out faster than in conventional beds.
- Since strawberry plants have limited space, the plants quickly select nutrients. Strawberries need to be fed more often, especially for remontant varieties after the first wave of fruiting.
Strawberry boxes
Most often, gardeners grow strawberries in boxes. This is the most convenient container; in addition, you can use ready-made options or make boxes yourself. You can plant seedlings on one or both sides, as in the picture.
What are the benefits of boxes:
- You can grow strawberries in such containers on a rigidly fixed base or in a hanging form.
- Using plastic or wooden boxes of different sizes, you can build pyramids from them. Such designs attract the attention of gardeners who want to see beauty in their garden.
How do you like this option of using strawberry boxes? Three boxes are stacked on top of each other, with plants peeking out from the cracks between the boards. Each layer is mulched with straw.
If you want to plant garden strawberries in plastic boxes, use not only store containers, but also fruit and vegetable containers. Although the soil dries out faster in them, it warms up better. Plants feel comfortable.
Interesting video about a garden fence with strawberries:
Buckets for strawberries
An equally interesting option that saves land at the dacha are buckets. You can use old buckets made of any material.
Planting in such containers will depend on how the strawberries are grown. Gardeners use different options:
- free-standing buckets;
- collected in a pyramid. The most attractive look are buckets assembled in an amazing cascade, as in this photo.
- suspended on rings or chains.
The option used may cause difficulties during watering. In addition, in such buckets the soil dries out much faster than in boxes. Due to the heavy weight of the container, rings or chains may fall off, so care must be taken to securely fasten it. Although the method used saves the area of the site as much as possible.
How to use buckets:
Let's sum it up
Growing strawberries is a kind of hobby that can become a business idea at any time. As a rule, they study in small areas and gain experience. Today, many amateur gardeners receive large harvests of strawberries even in small areas in buckets, boxes, and flowerpots.
Watch a video about one person who is passionate about strawberries:
