Grow Your Own Strawberries

Compressed compost. Prepare the compost as per the manufacturer’s instructions. It is usually as simple as putting the block into a water tight container and adding water which allows the compost to swell. This compressed compost is so easy to use and more importantly easy to carry.  A 60 litre bag of normal compost would need a wheel barrow to move it comfortably, whereby a block of compressed compost can be carried under your arm without much effort.

Site the container - Strawberries need sun to ripen the fruit so a warm sheltered area is ideal. My container is just outside the back door so I can pop a ripe strawberry in my mouth whenever I pass. Delicious!

Add the slow release fertilizer to the compost – Slow release fertilizer is exactly that, it releases fertilizer gradually over the season so you have no need to worry whether or not your plants need feeding.

Filling the container – Begin by adding the compost, an inch or two deep, in the bottom of the container. Place an old saucer or plate on top of this compost. The reason for this is that it helps to hold the moisture when watering and acts as a small reservoir. Add more compost until you reach the level of the first planting holes.

Planting the strawberries – Gently take the plant out of its pot and slip it through the planting hole from the outside in. Continue planting until the bottom level is complete. Place more compost in the container to just below the next level of planting holes. Carry on with planting your strawberries in this fashion until the holes have been planted. By adding a little more compost to the top of the container you should be able to place a few more strawberry plants around the edge.

Watering –Keep your container well watered, do not let it dry out. Compost often feels damp on the surface but a couple of inches down can be really dry and visa versa so be vigilant about watering.

Pest control – You may love strawberries but slugs and birds relish them. Be on the alert for these little thieves. If birds are a great problem you can buy netting very cheaply to drape over the container. Slugs need to be picked off the plants whenever you pass the container; they will be at their most voracious at night or in the damp weather. There is copper tape available that could be placed around the circumference of the container near the bottom. Slugs should not cross this barrier as they receive a little electric shock from the tape.