How to Grow Strawberries on a Balcony: A Step-by-Step Guide

Not everyone has the opportunity to grow strawberries in a garden or allotment.
Some are “condemned” to grow them on a balcony or possibly on a terrace.
Is it difficult? Definitely not. You just need to follow a few of the rules below:

  • Prepare healthy and strongly rooted seedlings.
    This is the starting point, without which further activities will make little sense.
  • Varieties:
    We especially recommend those from the group of repeat-fruiting, which will bear fruit throughout the season until late autumn.
  • Location:
    Choose a sunny spot and an appropriate box or pot with a depth of at least 20 cm, with plenty of holes in the bottom for draining excess water (so-called drainage).
  • Soil:
    Fill the box (or pot) with fertile, yet permeable soil, preferably with a slightly acidic pH.
  • Planting:
    Plant young plants at the same depth as they grew in the nursery, maintaining proper spacing, i.e., no less than 25 to 30 cm from seedling to seedling.
  • Watering:
    After planting, water the strawberries generously.
  • Fertilizing:
    Every 2 weeks, feed the plants using a special strawberry fertilizer (instructions for use are always found on the package).
  • Maintenance:
    Water the strawberries regularly, not allowing the plants to dry out; the soil in pots should be moist, not wet.

Should You Cut Strawberry Leaves After Fruiting?

I assume the question concerns traditional, non-repeating varieties. Here we have two schools of thought. One says – cut back, the other – absolutely do not cut back. One thing is certain, if our strawberries look OK after the harvest, meaning there’s no significant disease or pest infestation (especially spider mites) visible on the leaves, the strawberries aren’t overly weedy, they seem to be in good condition and “have life in them”, then, in my opinion, cutting the leaves doesn’t make much sense.🙂
Continue reading “Should You Cut Strawberry Leaves After Fruiting?”

Is It Worth Spending Money on Nursery Strawberry Plants? How Are They Better Than Free Ones From Your Father-in-Law?

Oh, it’s worth it! 😊 Seedlings from a nursery and those ‘from the father-in-law’ might look the same at a glance. The truth usually comes out after some time, often when we start harvesting. Believe an old practitioner – you will never, ever succeed in strawberry cultivation by planting a plantation with ‘crap’. Free seedlings ‘from the father-in-law’ or ‘from the brother-in-law’, especially from a plantation that’s been around for several years, are just an illusory saving. 😀 Continue reading “Is It Worth Spending Money on Nursery Strawberry Plants? How Are They Better Than Free Ones From Your Father-in-Law?”

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