How to Grow Delicious Strawberries in a Container Garden

I have had great success planting and growing strawberries in my container garden. You’ll find that it’s easy to plant and grow delicious sweet red strawberries on a patio, deck or balcony.

Strawberry shortcake, chocolate covered strawberries, strawberry jam, strawberry smoothies, strawberry pie, strawberry cake, strawberry muffins, the list could go on and on…

Is it any wonder that the strawberry is one of the most beloved berries of all?

And the best part is how easy it is for you to have your own pots of strawberries right outside your door – just waiting for you to enjoy them in the best way of all – fat, ripe, and sweet – freshly picked and eaten with only a quick rinse of water.

It’s easy to grow strawberries in containers but keep a few guidelines in mind:

- Buy strawberry plants from a garden center or an online garden merchant in the spring and plant them as soon as possible after receiving them.

- The method of planting strawberry plants is very important for a successful strawberry crop: The point where the root meets the first leaf stem is the “crown”. Plant so that the crown is exactly at the soil line. Don’t cover the crowns with soil. (If you do this right the hardest part is over!) If you are using a strawberry jar add a bit of soil to the bottom of the jar – insert strawberry plants (from the inside to the outside of pot) in the lowest holes. Add soil and keep going in this manner. Plant a few plants in the opening at the top.

- Keep strawberry plants watered, give them lots of sunshine, and use a good organic fertilizer regularly.

- Harvest your berries as they ripen. Store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator and don’t wash them until just before using.

Once you have learned to plant strawberry plants you will enjoy experimenting with the many healthy and delicious ways to use your fresh, organic container-grown strawberries!

Grow Container Garden Salad Greens the Easy Way

My all-time favorite for the container garden is salad greens.  It’s so easy to grow various types of lettuce.

Here’s what I do:

First decide how many heads of lettuce you need in a week. Let’s say you want four heads of lettuce every week.  Make four holes in the soil of your properly prepared container.

Drop 2-3 seeds in each hole. (You actually only want one lettuce plant per hole but I use extra seeds just to be safe – thin with scissors if you end up with several sprouts.) Cover the seeds with soil and mist gently with a spray bottle of water.

Then every 10-14 days repeat this procedure with another container.

You’ll have a steady supply of fresh salad greens each week and it will be exactly the right amount. No more waste!

Bonus Tip: Lettuce is a cool-season plant so choose seeds that are heat resistant. Also, as the days get warmer move your containers to an area protected from the hot afternoon sun and always give your lettuce plants lots of water and fertilizer.