Container gardening is becoming increasingly popular as an easy and inexpensive way to brighten up your space, particularly for those will small or no garden. In addition to flowers, this year try something different, like strawberries.

Really nothing can be more satisfying and delicious than feasting on fresh strawberries that you have lovingly grown yourself; you can even get the little ones involved it is that easy!  And summer wouldn’t be summer without that Strawberry Pavlova!

Strawberries can be grown in the ground or in raised beds.  However, for this ‘how to guide’ we are demonstrating how easy it is to grow strawberries in limited space using containers or hanging baskets…

Ingredients

• Strawberry Planter
• ‘Crocks’ made from broken terracotta pots, small stones or polystyrene 
• Compost – choose a special vegetable growing compost or multi purpose, preferably peat-free
• Strawberry plants – our varieties include Symphony; Red Gauntlet; Cambridge Favourite; Rhapsody

TOP TIP: Use a hanging basket if you want to keep your strawberries out of reach of the little people in your household or your pets

Recipe

1. Position your strawberry planter in its final position to save lifting it once planted.

TOP TIP: Choose a bright spot with lots of sunshine if you want lots of fresh juicy strawberries.

1. Place ‘crocks’ in the base of your planter to prevent the soil from falling through the drainage holes.
2. Fill your planter with soil and position your plants each time you reach the correct planting hole. 
3. Finish planting your container and water.

Aftercare

Ensure your strawberry planter is kept watered throughout the summer, especially in dry weather and feed with a liquid fertiliser.

Photo by GAP Photography

TOP TIP: You may need to place a net over your strawberry planter to prevent the fruits from being eaten by birds.