Growing Container Strawberries in Southern Climates

America's favorite berry fruit, the strawberry, is one of the easiest container garden plants to grow in southern states. Not only do they taste great and can be used in a wide variety of recipes, they even can be used for teeth whitening. 

Even novice gardeners can expect great triumph in the container growing of strawberries. Successfully growing strawberries only requires a small space, which is why this plant makes the perfect container plant.

1. Basic Strawberry Growing Facts:

• There are two types of strawberries: Spring bearers and ever bearers. Spring bearers produce fruit in June. Ever bearers yield fruit from spring until frost, which in Southern climates can be a long time. In parts of Florida and some other Southern states, this can mean just about a year-round a production of strawberries.
• As a general rule, plant twenty-five plants per strawberry fan in your household.
• Container strawberries can be grown anywhere in a container, even inside an apartment with no balcony, patio, or yard.
• Strawberry plants are perennials. However, they only produce well for about three years. Second year fruit production will always be the best. For this reason, many strawberry container growers replace their plants every two years.
• While strawberries need six to eight hours of sunlight, it is equally important for them to have darkness, from sunset to sunrise.

2. Twelve Recommended Varieties of Strawberries for Southern States:

Choosing the best variety of strawberry plants is vital to accomplishment in container growing strawberries. Basically, it boils down to one simple rule - select the strawberry variety that grows best in your state (and the region of your state). You can get a great deal of information online in understanding these choices of strawberries. Make sure you choose warm climate varieties. The following are my recommendations, for consideration in growing strawberries in most Southern states:

• Aromas- Ever bearer; fast fruiting strawberries; resistant to powdery mildew and spider mites; large strawberry fruit; has some pollination issues; upright plant.
• Camarosa - Spring bearer; large long wedge fruit; deep red color; variations in sweetness and taste.
• Capitola - Ever bearer; high yield fruit.
• Chandler - Spring bearer; medium to large fruit; dessert strawberry.
• Diamante - Ever bearer; large fruit; resistant to powdery mildew and spider mites.
• Gaviota - Spring bearer; large fruit; can be seedy in hot weather.
• Oso Grande - Spring bearer; medium sized fruit with unique rounded tip; flavor and color varies.
• Rosa Linda - Ever bearer; medium sized firm and nice-looking fruit; may have white tips when ripe; good flavor.
• Seascape - Spring bearer; large well-shaped fruit; disease resistant; ever bearing; very good container strawberry.
• Selva - Ever bearer; fast fruiting deep red and firm strawberry fruit; variations in shapes; dry and bland flavor.
• Sweet Charlie - Spring bearer; medium to large fruit that varies in color from orange red to bright red; very sweet; resistant to fruit rot.
• Winter Dawn - Spring bearer; prolific runners.

3. Choose Your Strawberry Containers:

An important consideration in growing strawberries is understanding, that they absolutely must be in well-drained soil. Also just, make sure that whatever they are planted in, has a hole in the bottom for drainage. However, the strawberry container should not sit in something that will collect water.

In choosing strawberry containers, you have a lot of choices, some examples are:

• Hanging baskets
• Flower pots
• Barrels
• Tubs
• Clay strawberry pots
• Window Boxes
• Multi-plant containers

Additionally, the right container location is important. The strawberry containers must be placed where the strawberry plants can get at least six to eight hours of sunlight. If this isn't possible, you may have to move them during the day into sunlight or use plant lights. Also, shelter the strawberry containers from any areas where they might be exposed to hot summer winds.

4. Prepare Your Soil:

Strawberries grow best in well-drained, loose soil that contains some natural material. Prior to planting the strawberry plants, working 5-10-5 fertilizer into the soil is generally recommended. Some gardeners prefer a different 1-2-1 ratio of fertilizer. Frequency of feeding strawberry plants should be lightly, at least once a month, if not twice a month.

5. Planting Strawberries in Your Container:

The simple method is to just make certain that the roots of each strawberry plant are well covered. Usually, if you were growing strawberries in a garden, you would plant them about two feet apart. Since you are container growing the strawberries, follow one simple rule -- only plant one strawberry plant per container. The exception, is the special multi-strawberry plant containers, that have numerous slots for each plant.

6. Watering Strawberries:

Watering strawberries is also a simple rule process - water them only enough to keep the soil damp. Do not over water. Do not allow them to stand in water. At the same time, remember however, that strawberries are 95% water. If they do not get enough water, they will be small and hard.

7. Strawberry Plant Pests:

Strawberry plants are susceptible to slugs and birds. To protect them from slugs, don't place your strawberry container at ground level. To protect your strawberry fruits from birds, you may have to cover them with netting. Snails, thrips, and red spider mites can sometimes be a problem. Commercial sprays are available should you encounter these problems.

8. Strawberry Harvest Time:

Harvest your strawberries when they look bright red and have no green left on the fruit. Strawberries grow in clusters and are easily damaged, so you need to be careful when you pick the ripe ones in not disturbing the lesser ripe fruits. The proper method is, to grasp the stem just above the fruit between your forefinger and your thumbnail, about a half inch above the fruit. Then, pull with a gentle twisting motion and roll into the palm of your hand.

Consider growing White Alpine Strawberries hydroponically, the reasons are:

• They do not send out runners like other strawberry varieties
• They are relatively easy to grow by seed
• They make a nice ornamental gardening touch to your growing area as they are pretty and aroma filled
• They are a gourmet cook's delight
• They have a wonderful, slightly pineapple taste and a sweeter strawberry taste
• They don't have to be picked until fully ripe
• They don't require as humid conditions as red strawberries
• They like it somewhat shady and don't require full sun

• Never plant strawberry plants with the plant crown below the soil level. Strawberry plants must be planted at soil level.
• Germinate White Alpine strawberry seeds on the surface or barely cover the seeds. It will take two to six weeks for them to germinate. They are very tiny seeds, so you might consider using the jell-0 type method of assisting germination. (See sidebar).
• Once they are started, cull the weaker strawberry plants out and plant the stronger ones in your strawberry containers.
• It is important to feed and water your strawberry container plants on a regular basis if they are not planted in a hydroponic system.
• Don't forget that growing strawberries in containers, can include growing them in grow bags, troughs, pots, hanging baskets and tubs.
• Strawberry plants only need about one inch of water per week.
• Water strawberry plants early in the day to insure that the foliage is dry by nightfall.
• Never leave strawberry plants standing in water.
• Feed your strawberry container plants at least twice each season.
• Absolutely do not feed your strawberry plants during flowering.
• Absolutely do not feed your strawberry plants during fruiting.
• Harvest in the mornings and on cloudy days for the best tasting fruit.
• If grown in containers, remember that on hot days, strawberry plants might need to be watered twice a day.