Potting Strawberry
Strawberries have shallow roots, so they can grow easily in grow pots. They can grow indoors and outdoors. It can be placed on the balcony, terrace, or a window with sunlight inside. Although potted strawberries can be planted at any time of the year, it is better to plant them outdoors or indoors in spring.
Select a grow container with drainage system, like fabric grow bags or plastic pots with drain holes. Although you can buy a special strawberry pot with multiple drain holes, this kind of pot is not necessary. It is enough to have drain holes. Strawberries can grow and bear fruit in any pot as long as the soil quality is good and the sun is bright. If you use some plastic containers, rather than fabric grow bags which have excellent drainage system, it is suggested to put some broken tiles, pebbles and small stones on the bottom of the container to help drainage.
Two thirds of the space of the pot is filled with potted soil (mixed substrate of potted soil). Strawberry pots should be at least 24 inches in diameter. Even if the strawberry root system is shallow, it does need some space for the growth of the stolon. The soil most suitable for the growth of strawberries has a pH value between 5.3 and 6.5 (you can use a pH tester to identify), so the potted soil is prepared according to this ratio. Grab a handful of organic compost every month and add it to the pot soil to make it more fertile. If it is planted in a tall and thin strawberry unglazed ceramic pot, add a quarter of peat soil before adding soil to improve the pot’s ability to keep water. If it is planted on the basket, smear the edge of the basket with peat moss. Again, this locks in water in the plant. Peat moss can also make strawberries grow around the basket, which looks very lovely.
Water until the water starts to leak out from the bottom of the basin. Then gently pile up a small mound 1 inch high and 2.8 inches in diameter in the basin. Strawberries should be planted on this mound to achieve the best water permeability. If several strawberries are planted in a large container, five or six mounds should be piled up, with each mound at least 6 inches apart, to provide space for stoloninferous growth.
Gently lift your strawberry plants from the nursery pot you bought from the shop (at first, strawberry plants were planted in the nursery pot by the shop). If the plants eat too much soil in the pot, you can use scissors to cut off parts if necessary. Shake off the excess soil, while carefully combing the fragile roots with your fingers.
Fill a bucket or other container with water. Soak strawberry roots for an hour, and let them absorb enough water before planting.
Take the plants out of the water and put one on the top of each mound. Use your hands to comb the roots, and let the stolon of strawberry extend down the slope of the soil slope and spread it on the soil pile.
The pot is filled with soil, which is about as high as the root neck. The root neck is where the stem grows, so don’t bury it in the soil.
Water the plants. Until the basin begins to drain. (Because the air bubbles in the soil will burst when watering, the height of the soil will be reduced. So if necessary, add more soil.)
Sprinkle water with a watering can to avoid soil loss caused by excessive water flow. The container can be placed outside (hanging or on the ground) or in a warm and sunny place.
Plant Strawberry from Seeds
Buy seeds locally or online.
Fill the container with soil, sprinkle water, and let the water fully penetrate into the soil.
Use your fingers to press down the soil into a small hole about 6mm. The space between the holes should be more than 6 inches.
Wrap the top of the plant with plastic wrap, which can keep the soil moisture when the seeds germinate.
Put the plant in a sunny place. Strawberries will grow more easily. In winter, put it in a radiator or other heating source.
The seeds have germinated to make strawberry plants slim. Pinch or cut the smallest plant to leave more space and energy for the larger plant. Leave a distance of about 6 inches between the remaining plants
Plant Strawberry from the Stolon ( Also Called Vegetative Reproduction)
The stolon is the part extending from the main plant – the purpose of stolon is to produce new plants as much as possible. Stolons can be used to prepare strawberries for planting the next year. This planting method is the most common at present.
Fill the new container with soil and place it next to the plant growing on the stolon.
Move the stolon out of the original soil and put it in a new pot with soil to connect it with the main plant (mother plant), which can help keep the new plant in balance.
Keep the stolon for at least one month in this way. During this period, water it often, just like the mother plant, to keep the soil moisture and promote the growth of the root.
Separate the stolon from the mother plant. A month later, the stoloniferous stems (made with clean and sterilized garden scissors) shall be removed from the mother plant to prevent the new plant from contracting diseases.