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Gardening Basics: Strawberries and Blueberries Berry basics, varieties and growing tips. From "Dirt On Gardening" episode DDOG-104

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	Figure E
	Figure D

Plant strawberries in early spring. When purchasing plants, choose one plant for each 'pocket' and three or four for the top. Typically 20 to 25 plants should provide enough berries for an average family.

For soil, use a pre-fertilized, soil-less, bagged media, and consider amending it with a good compost or plant food. A slow-release balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 works well. Begin by filling the bottom of the pot. You may want to cover the drainage holes loosely with broken terra cotta or pea gravel. This will provide drainage without allowing potting mix to fall out.

Begin planting from the bottom, in the pockets on the side of the pot (figures D and E). as you reach the holes in the sides of the pot, tuck plants one by one through the outside of the holes, patting them in with potting mix from the inside to stabilize them. Plant so that the crown of the plant is just above the surface of the soil, and place only one strawberry plant in each pocket.

Figure F

When the pot is full, top it off with three or four plants (figure F).

When your planting is done, water thoroughly both through the holes and from the top. Strawberry plants like a lot of sun, so set your strawberry pots on your patio in full sun to part shade. As your strawberry plants grow, they will produce runners. These can be cut and planted in additional pockets or simply cut off and discarded to enhance production in the main part of the plant.

Planting Tip: As with any planting method, two factors are critical: depth of planting and soil compression. Plants will fail to flourish if roots are too deep or too shallow and if the soil is not packed firmly around the roots. Avoid the common mistake of spreading the roots when planting. If the roots are on the top of the soil, they'll dry out quickly. Roots should be planted straight down.

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Use the side pockets on strawberry pots for individual plants, but make sure to water them often. They're more exposed to sun and will dry out quickly.

Watering and Feeding Strawberries

It's vital that your strawberry plants get watered daily--or as needed, depending on rainfall. Remember that plants in a well-drained pot will need more water than plants in the ground. Check to see if the soil is dry daily by poking your finger in the top inch of soil. If it is dry, then it's time to water. Watering leaches nutrients from the potting soil, so consider using a fertilizer. However, you should hold off on fertilizing until after the plants are established--about two weeks after planting.

Strawberry Factoid: Strawberries are grown in every state in the US, in Canada and even in Iran.

Potting Tip: Place a paper-towel tube filled with gravel in the center of the pot as you fill the pot with dirt. The gravel "cylinder" will help distribute the water through the soil better.

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