Q: I love fresh strawberries from the garden, but I don’t have the space in my yard to plant them. Any suggestions?

A. Plant a strawberry pot. Strawberry pots have characteristic “pockets” on the sides of the pot. They are generally one to two feet tall and ceramic. Many garden centers carry them and they are ideal for the patio and deck. Try to find one with six or more pockets so that you can maximize your harvest.

For a good strawberry crop, also cut a piece of PVC pipe to the height of the pot. Drill lateral holes in the pipe every 2” or so. The pipe can be placed in the center of the pot to carry water and fertilizer to help nourish the plants as they grow.

Before planting, soak the pot in water for an hour before you plant your strawberries—doing this will limit the amount of water that is soaked up by the pot, allowing the water to be absorbed by plant roots.

Choose strawberries that are Everbearing or Day Neutral. These varieties will set fruit all summer if they have eight hours of sun a day. Another choice is Alpine strawberries, known for their petite fruit but full-sized flavor.

Fill your pot with soil and layer the strawberries, also known as “pips,” in the pockets, trying not to smash the roots. Make sure to plant the PVC pipe in the center of the pot with the first layering. Water the container well and continue to fertilize every two weeks via your PVC pipe. Your efforts will be rewarded in June with delicious strawberries right from your garden pot.

For more information on growing strawberries, read Colorado State University Fact Sheet #7.000, “Strawberries for the Home Garden.”

Gardening and Insect Fact Sheets are available on-line by clicking HERE.

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This page updated:  May 16, 2007