Here’s a Fun Way to Grow Strawberries – In a Basket!

Strawberries are the easiest fruits to grow, and there’s nothing tastier than home-grown strawberries! Instead of planting them in your garden, how about planting them in hanging baskets? This is how to do it!

Growing strawberries in hanging baskets has always been popular, mostly because strawberries are really easy to grow and maintain. There are several varieties of strawberries to choose from, but most only require minimal but frequent care. These will look great hanging from your front porch, or on your patio! Read the following steps on how you can get started planting your own!

Step 1: Prepare the Baskets

The most popular baskets to use for strawberries are wire baskets lined with Coco fibre. However, any hanging basket or pot with good drainage will work well. Before adding soil to the basket, make sure that you soak the basket or pot that you will be using.

Step 2: Soil

You’ll need to create a mixture of soil for your basket. Use peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite in a 8-1-1 ratio and mix well. This will be a lightweight mixture that won’t weigh the basket down. It’ll also retain water better than most potting soils and keep your strawberry plants from drying out too quickly.

Step 3: Add the Soil to the Basket

Take the mixture you created and fill the basket to a depth of 2-4 inches from the top. Create a hole in the soil that is large enough for the strawberry plants. Try to spread the plants out to help stimulate growth.

Step 4: Water

Next you need to water the plants thoroughly so that the soil and the roots of the plants are soaked.

Step 5: Hang the Basket or Pot

During the first few days after planting you’ll need to make sure that the plants are in a location out of direct sunlight. Keep the plants in that location for 3-4 days while they are adjusting to their new basket or pot. After, you can gradually move the strawberries into the sunlight. Only leave them in the sun a few hours a day at first, and gradually increase the time until they are left in sunlight for 6-8 hours a day.

Step 6: Maintenance

Make sure that the soil is moist but not soaked. Use a water soluble fertilizer every 10-14 days. Use fertilizers that are high in phosphorus because this will promote growth.

Photos: Tumblr, DIY Crafts Mom, Growing Days.