[jaycee]

Thinking of buying a large strawberry pot to grow strawberries in (of course).Has anyone got experiece of these and how do they compare to the fruit grown in the conventional method.
Any tips or advise welcome.

[corndolly]

Our second year using pots, you have to water daily unless it rains !!!!

The plants at the bottom of the pot can be less prolific unless you water well.

No weeding or straw required .

Had quite a few runners from the plants and have grown them on ,looking for more pots now or similar containers, quite fancy trying hanging baskets next.

One of my helpers watering in april ,no need to water much since !!  easy to pick, easy to net too, had a reasonable crop.

[jaycee]

Corndolly your pots look amazing. Do the planters have a bottom in them?
I am thinking how one would move them if the need arose when they were planted up.

[corndolly]

Yes they have bottoms in them.

When they are full of wet soil hard to move but when the soil has dried out they can be with care. So its best to decide on the site and stick to it , these plants will be replaced with new ones after year 3 ,so if I want to move them, I'll do it then

I bought these and they arrived as flat packed sections. I think its possible to use plastic buckets/barrels and make holes in the sides for planting pockets.

[jaycee]

Again thanks for that and for getting back to me so quickly.
I notice that they are selling them at a reduced price at "garden4less" so I think you have persuaded me to go for it.

[David.]

Why not grow horizontally and spread straw around which only costs £1 a bale?

And it make propagation of the runners a whole lot easier.

[jaycee]

I am trying to free up space David to enable to to grow other crops that won`t grow vertical! I already grow my present strawberries with a straw mulch and yes they do grow well with that method and as you say much cheaper when you have to buy the containers. Still worth a go if I can grow another couple of rows of peas or onions etc.

[brucesgirl]

How do you keep your strawberry plants over winter? I don't have a greenhouse and always have to buy fresh plants each year. I really love your strawberry pots - we have one but it is really a herb pot and so much smaller.

[jaycee]

How do you keep your strawberry plants over winter? I don't have a greenhouse and always have to buy fresh plants each year. I really love your strawberry pots - we have one but it is really a herb pot and so much smaller.

I live in NW Scotland and we have very little frost here next to the sea but have you tried covering with fleece? Sure others on the site would help with advice. As for the picture of the pots. Found these on the ... "Garden4less "site. Just Google it and you will get it up. Hope this helps.

[corndolly]

I dont do anything with the pots in the winter, the plants go into hibernation.After fruiting I give the pots comfrey liquid feed, the runners are rooted in pots, which I overwinter in the greenhouse .
In the spring the plants start to develop new leaves and then I water regularly unless it rains!! Cover with net when the fruits start to form.
Every 3 years replace soil and plants .

[brucesgirl]

I have only covered my tree ferns, palms and bananas with fleece in the winter up till now, didn't occur to me cover the strawberries! Looks like I will have to lay out for loads of fleece this year.