How to Grow Strawberries in Pots: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Believe it or not, you don’t need an entire farmstead to grow fruit and vegetables - You can have great success in growing many fruits, like strawberries, in pots and containers. Whether you’re short on space, or you want to have added decor around your home, growing strawberries in hanging baskets, pots, or other containers is a wonderful idea!

In this blog, we’ll explain exactly how to grow strawberries in pots with an easy step-by-step guide.

Why Should Strawberries Be Grown in Pots or Baskets?

You may have seen strawberries growing in fields or strawberry beds as you pass through the countryside. However, that’s not the only place they grow; strawberries can be grown perfectly in pots!

However, why would you want to do that in the first place?

Makes the Most of a Compact Space

Strawberries are a compact plant, and they want their home to feel the same. Planting strawberries in pots is an easy way to give them the security they want as they grow.

Limits Pests, Disease, and Chemicals

With a smaller space for your strawberries, you can look after them well. You’ll be able to easily watch for pests and diseases and treat your plant quickly. Plus, you can better manage how much (if any) lawn or garden care treatment you give it, like pest control or weed control.

Adds Decor to Your Outdoor Space

If nothing else, growing strawberries in hanging baskets or pots is a great way to add decor and colour to your back garden. Whether you want to spruce up your outdoor area with a budget-friendly decor item, or you just need a pop of colour, this is a great way to do it.

Makes it Convenient

We’re creatures of convenience, if nothing else. Keeping strawberries in pots is an incredibly convenient way to have homegrown produce at a moment’s notice! You can keep your strawberry plant close to the kitchen or just outside on the patio, so you can grab a few berries whenever you need to.

Best Pot to Grow Strawberries

When it comes to how to grow strawberries in pots, the options are (almost) limitless! You can grow strawberries in sitting containers or hanging baskets. Just make sure you have a pot with good drainage. The best pot to grow strawberries will have multiple drainage holes on the bottom. This helps make sure your strawberry plant isn’t overwatered.

Best Pot to Grow June-bearing Strawberries

For larger strawberry plants, you’re going to want to give them a larger container. If you’re raising June-bearing strawberries, opt for a raised planter bed instead of a simple pot. This will allow the root ball of the plant to grow as large as it needs to.

Best Pot to Grow Day Neutral Strawberries

Smaller strawberry plants, like day-neutral strawberries, don’t need as much space. They’re more compact and produce smaller fruits. You can easily get away with a simple pot with this variety of strawberries.

How to Grow Strawberries in Pots: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready for your step-by-step guide on how to grow strawberries in pots? We’ve made it as simple as possible for you!

Tools for the Job

Step 1: Prepare Your Strawberry Plants

If you’re starting from seedlings, you’ll find our guide on how to grow vegetables from seeds to be extremely helpful. However, if you’re starting from a strawberry plant, you’ll immediately find your plant looks lush and full in your new potting container.  Strawberry plants want to be compact, but not crowded. Don’t plant too many strawberry plants in one single pot.

If you’re using a strawberry pot, place 1 plant in each hole. If you’re using a standard pot or hanging basket, leave a space of roughly 25cm between each plant. Make sure the plants are firmly placed in the soil after planting.

Step 2: Add Soil to Your Pot

Add a layer of potting grit or even broken pottery to the base of the pot. This will support soil drainage, so the strawberry plant doesn’t ever sit in too much water. Fill up the pot or basket with good soil-based compost. A loamy potting mixture will also work well for strawberry plants!

Step 3: Plant the Strawberry Plant

Plant your strawberries so the base of the stem right where it meets the roots is above the surface of the soil. Cover up the roots up to the base of the stem with your potting mixture. Water the soil well, but don’t oversaturate it. You don’t want your strawberry plant sitting in more moisture than needed! This is where your drainage holes come in handy. If you need to, add more of your potting mix to the pot once the soil compacts after watering.

Step 4: Find the Right Spot for your Pot

Your strawberry plant will need a bright, sunny spot! In fact, you’ll need to find a spot that gets at least 8 hours of sunshine every day. This will yield plenty of fruits for you to enjoy. You may want to rotate your strawberry plant every few days if the sunlight is only coming from one direction, like a South-facing window.

Step 5: Give Plenty of Aftercare

Once your strawberry plant is potted, it’s time to give it the care and attention it deserves.

Water Your Strawberry Plant

Wait until the soil feels dry about 2.5cm down into the soil (or up to your first knuckle on your index finger). Don’t let it dry out completely, but don’t let it sit in oversaturated water, either.

Feed and Fertilise

Depending on the type of soil for plants you’ve used, your strawberry plant may require additional fertilising. Use tomato feed or a slow-release feed every four weeks. You’ll want to continue fertilising your strawberry plants into the fall so it grows the following year.

Cover in Winter

Allow your strawberries to go dormant in the Winter, but don’t let the plant freeze. Move your containers under a deck or in a garage to protect them from the Winter weather. When the soil becomes extremely dry, give it some water.

Growing Strawberries in Pots: FAQs and Things to Keep in Mind

When it comes to how to grow strawberries in pots, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind to make sure you’re successful:

When is the Best Time to Plant Strawberries?

Planting strawberries is best if it’s done in early Spring. Aim for several weeks before the final frost of the season. Usually, this will be late February into March or even April. Doing so early, and with the right types of strawberries, like alpine strawberries, June-bearing, and day-neutral varieties, you’ll yield a good crop from early Summer into Autumn.

How Often Do You Water Strawberries in Pots?

Strawberry plants don’t want to be completely dried out, but they also don’t want to be soaking wet either. It’s best to water strawberries when the first 2.5cm of soil is dry. If you place your index finger up to the first knuckle in the soil and it comes out dusty, you can safely water your plant with your watering can. Strawberries in pots may require more frequent watering, especially in hot weather.

How Much Light is Needed?

When it comes to how to grow strawberries in pots, you’ll need plenty of great light! Find a location that gets 8-12 hours of sunlight each day. If the location only has sun coming in from one angle, like a South-facing window, you’ll need to rotate the plant every 3 or 4 days.

How and When Do You Fertilise Strawberries in Pots?

Often, you may not be able to get the absolute best soil for strawberries in pots. If that’s the case, then it’s okay! Go for ones that provide plenty of structure and well-draining soil, then you can add fertiliser in as it’s needed. Use a tomato feed or a slow-release fertiliser every 4 weeks. Be sure to fertilise into the Autumn season so the strawberry plant produces flowers and fruit the following year.

How Long Do They Take to Produce Fruits?

Planting strawberries in pots is a long-term investment. Once they’re planted, most varieties will take about a year before they produce any fruit. After the first year, the average time it takes for strawberries to produce fruit is 3 months after they flower.

When it comes to how to plant strawberries in pots, you can’t go wrong with our step-by-step guide. You’ll find that whether you keep them in pots or you plant strawberries in hanging baskets, they’ll add convenience and decor wherever you put them!

Want to start planting your strawberries? We’ve got everything you need right here in our Lawn and Garden section.