If you are short on space, growing strawberries in hanging baskets might be the way to go. It is super simple, and can produce surprising yields. I whipped up a hanging strawberry basket this morning for the greenhouse and thought I’d show you how I did it.
To get started, you need to choose what type of strawberry you’d like to grow. In general, smaller June bearing strawberries are the best choice, because they are not quite as prone to sending out runners. {Runners are how strawberries multiply, but they take a lot of energy from the plant–energy that would be better used to make berries.} I used my favorite strawberries, Tri-Star.
Next, you need a hanging basket. I used a standard wire hanging basket from the Home Depot {Amazon.com has hanging baskets too}. Anything will work, so long as you have 12-15 inches from top to bottom. Line your hanging basket with moss {or even coir} to help the plants retain water.
Fill your hanging basket with potting soil. {Need potting soil? Check out my post on how to make your own potting soil.}
You can typically plant 4-6 plants in your average size hanging basket. My basket was a little larger than normal so I used 12 strawberry plants.
Finally, water those suckers in, and Presto! In a month or two you’ll have a hanging strawberry garden.
Don’t forget to water your hanging baskets pretty regularly, and your strawberry plants will need to be re-potted each year, to ensure enough nutrients for a good crop of berries.
How do YOU? Are you growing anything in hanging baskets this year?
~Mavis
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Diane Bernath says
Hi Mavis – I actually just bought two of the baskets that are lined with some sort of coconut fibre or something so I’ll use these ( I had planned for flowers, but was wondering what to to with the strawberry plants I purchased from a school fundraiser).
I do have a question though – for the winter (I’m in TOronto On.) would I just hang these in the garage and pull them out in the spring and repot them?
Thanks, Diane
Kate says
Hi Mavis,
I desperately want to grow strawberries, but I’ve got too many opossums in my neighborhood. This seems like a great option. Any other ideas on how to deal with the pests?
Thanks,
Kate in San Jose, Ca
Mavis says
I am a HUGE fan of bird netting –> http://www.stage.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/tag/bird-netting/
crlzmmr says
Anybody know why my strawberries are funny shaped?
Am I not watering them enough?
And raspberries…what are the tiny, tiny, tiny bugs in the berries?
Are you just supposed to jingle the berries alittle in your hand
and hope the bugs fall off before you eat the berries?
or are you supposed to pick the raspberries
and pop them in you mouth without looking at them first ?
And do not even get me started on the little bite marks on my strawberries…
(I’m figuring that might be snails…)
Am I too picky about what comes from my garden ?
Lynn says
I would like to know the answers to these questions too!
The bite marks square me actually. Mice? Birds? Squirrels? Ew!! I guess that’s why the hanging plants?
Holly says
Did you do a round of crowns midlevel in the basket and then top with more dirt and do another round on top? It sort of looks like it and I have been wondering if you could layer them that way so that they grow out the sides. Thanks!
Mavis says
Yes. I placed the roots in the soil and poked the green tops out the sides. I’m excited to watch this grow. 🙂
Holly says
me too! keep us posted!
Laura says
I believe you have it backwards. June bearers are the ones that put out lots and lots of runners! Lots! Everbearers don’t. June bearers would be miserable in a hanging basket. I have a 4 x 8 bed of them, and each plant is probably 18″ square, and at least that tall, with leaves the size of dinner plates!
My pest problem is pill bugs!
Diane G. says
I am also wondering if wintering is possible & how for the hanging strawberry plants. I bought one that is supposed to fruit through until frost. First year trying them so only bought one to start me off to see hkw succesful it is. Hoping it proves fruitful & I can reuse it next year. I live in south eastern ontario
Jackie says
Every time u try to grow strawberry within weeks to a month they die . I tired grown both indoor and out doors with watering everyday . All all different pots but they still die the most star beets I’ve seen was one tiny one . I love strawberry so much I would be so happy frowning my own . I ever use plant food . Any help would be appreciated. This weekend I’m going to buy more baby plants to start all over again cause my last set about to die