If you want to grow strawberries yourself, you don't need a large garden. Because the red fruits can also be cultivated on a small balcony without any problems: the red fruits are not only shown to their best advantage in hanging baskets, but are also protected from rotting due to the lack of soil contact. A nice side effect: the elevated position of the traffic light makes both the care and the harvesting of the strawberries much more pleasant. Read all about planting and caring for the popular fruit here!
location
Strawberries like it sunny, which is why they are ideally cultivated in full sun. Although they also thrive in partial shade, the lack of sunlight has a noticeable effect on the harvest. Because the abundance of flowers as well as the fruit hanging are much lower in plants in a shady location. If you are aiming for a harvest that is as productive as possible, you should therefore adapt the red fruits to a location that is as suitable as possible. A cookie with the following characteristics is best:
- full sun
- create airy
- protected from wind and rain
notice: In the hanging basket, it is no longer necessary to maintain a planting distance, but there should be space for a maximum of two to four plants in one basket.
substrate
Choosing the right soil is not only important for growth and for the hanging strawberries, it can also affect the taste. You achieve the best taste experience with humus-rich, heavy soil. For strawberries, for example, hydrangea soil and a mixture of normal potting soil with compost and garden peat are ideal. It is important that the substrate ultimately has the following properties:
- humorous
- nutritious
- slightly damp
- slightly sour
- pH: 5.5-6.5
tip: If the soil is too sandy, you can improve it by adding some humus.
hanging basket
There are now hanging baskets in a number of designs, so that the material as well as the shape and color of the basket can always be adapted to your own taste. It is important that the traffic light has a minimum diameter of around 25 centimetres. This ensures that the hanging strawberries have enough space. It is even better if the traffic light has a diameter of 28 to 30 centimetres.
sowing
Strawberries can easily be sown by yourself. Appropriate seed is required for this, which can be purchased in specialist shops. Alternatively, of course, there is also the option of harvesting the seeds yourself. For this purpose, the seeds are collected from fully ripe fruits and then stored in a dark, cool and dry place until sowing in February/March. However, before the seeds are sown, they should be soaked in lukewarm water for about four to six hours. The sowing itself is then as follows:
- Fill the seed tray with potting soil
- Spray substrate with soft water
- Distribute the seeds and press down the soil well
- Cover the jar with cling film
- Water when substrate dries out
- Place the container in a partially shaded window seat
- Germination temperature: 16-20 °C
- Duration: 2-6 weeks
notice: As soon as the seedlings are at the 5-leaf stage, you can place them in the hanging basket.
planting
There are different dates for planting: the plants are usually planted in July/August. However, they are usually available in stores much earlier, so that planting is also possible in spring. Regardless of the time, however, it is important that the plant is placed in a bucket of water for around an hour before planting. However, it is important to ensure that the leaves are not wet! After the plant has absorbed sufficient water, it can be placed in the hanging basket as follows:
- Incorporate drainage
- made of pebbles, grit or potsherds
- lay breathable garden fleece over it
- Fill in the substrate and insert plants
- Hearth of strawberry should remain free of soil
- Refill substrate and press down
- Leave the pouring edge free
- water thoroughly
maintenance
Fertilize
Hanging strawberries are also happy about a sufficient supply of nutrients, which is why regular fertilization is an integral part of care. Compost, which is worked into the soil, is primarily suitable for this. Alternatively, an organic fertilizer such as horn shavings can also be used. The fertilization itself takes place early on, because the plants already enjoy a nutrient supply in the first month after planting. Then fertilize regularly until the end of June, paying attention to the following:
- 2x per month organic fertilizer
- Mix liquid fertilizer into the irrigation water
- avoid too much nitrogen
- fertilize with patent potash in August
- Kali strengthens the plant for the winter
pour
Regular watering of the hanging strawberries is also essential for their growth, because the red fruits tolerate neither drought nor waterlogging. It is therefore advisable to check the substrate for dryness in the morning and in the evening. Whether the plant needs water can be determined quickly and easily with a thumb test. When the substrate is dry, it should be watered. The following must also be taken into account when irrigating:
- water regularly
- water more often during hot periods
- preferably in the morning before the sun hits the leaves
- Water more before and after flowering
- water less during fruiting
- Mulch keeps moisture in the soil better
notice: A too well-intentioned water supply can have a negative effect on the taste, because it becomes watery.
To cut
In addition to regular fertilizing and watering, the red fruits do not really need much attention, because cutting is not absolutely necessary. However, their development can be significantly promoted if the following care steps are carried out:
- remove first flowers and runners
- After the last harvest, cut off fruit-bearing shoots
- remove diseased plant parts
- get rid of brown and dry leaves
hibernate
Hanging strawberries are generally considered to be hardy and cope well with the local winters. However, certain precautions should be taken to ensure that the plants survive the cold season in the best possible way. On the one hand, it is advisable to prepare the strawberries for the winter in autumn. For this purpose, the foothills are first cut off and the soil is loosened up a bit. Potassium fertilization in the fall has also proven effective to strengthen the soil for the winter. It should also be noted that only the following specimens should overwinter:
- healthy, vigorous plants
- well developed roots
- Growths must be firmly rooted
You can bring the strawberries into the sheltered indoor area for the winter. It is best to place them in a place that is as bright as possible but not too warm. Alternatively, the hanging basket can also be left on the balcony. However, the following must be observed here:
- Protect the vessel from frost
- with fleece, straw mats or bubble wrap
- Cover the plant with brushwood if there is a frost
- Beware of late frost!
notice: After wintering, it is advisable to replace the entire substrate.
harvest and storage
Strawberries can usually be harvested from June to October. Ideally, a large number of sweet fruits will have formed by this time, so that harvesting is possible around two to three times a week. The strawberries can be eaten immediately after picking or processed into sauces or jams. Because storage is unfortunately only possible to a limited extent due to their pressure sensitivity:
- Strawberries can only be stored for a short time
- it is better to freeze the fruit
- Fruits are a bit mushy after thawing
- can, however, be further processed
- Jam tastes even more aromatic
