Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 246 5/24/17 12:26 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 247 6/5/17 3:19 PM246 chapter 6STRAWBERRY POTS
Strawberry pots are tall planters with
staggered holes or pockets around their
exterior. Traditionally they’re used for growing
strawberries, because they keep the ripening
fruit off the ground, help improve air circulation,
and allow you to grow lots of berry plants in a
very small area. But strawberry pots have their
downsides, too: they’re notoriously difficult to
water, they can be tough to plant, some styles
dry out very quickly, and the plants often grow
unevenly. But these faults are easy to overcome
with just a few simple tweaks. In fact, strawberry
pots are excellent containers for growing all sorts
of plants, including vegetables, greens, herbs, and
flowers, especially where space is an issue.- Strawberry pots made from porous terracotta
dry out very quickly. Choose one that’s made
from glazed ceramic or plastic instead, or
seal the terracotta with two layers of sealant
before planting. - Look for strawberry pots with deep pockets
instead of flat holes. The pockets are better
at collecting irrigation water and they allow
more room for root growth. - When watering strawberry pots from the top,
the water often runs out the side holes rather
than soaking into the soil. One trick to ensure
this doesn’t happen is to insert a section of
PVC pipe with^1 ⁄^2 -in. holes drilled down its
length through the center of the pot at the
time of planting. When irrigation water is
added, it’s poured into the hollow pipe where
it will slowly soak into the surrounding soil
through the holes.
Terracotta strawberry pots, such
as this one filled with hot pepper
plants, are notoriously di
cult
to water and can dry out very
quickly. But these challenges are
easy to overcome with a few small
tweaks.Strawberry pots with pockets
instead of flat holes are far easier
to water and allow for better
root growth. This one also has
no drainage hole in the bottom,
making it a perfect fit for bog
plants like these carnivorous
pitcher plants.One way to overcome the
irrigation challenges of strawberry
pots is to insert a perforated PVC
pipe down the center of the pot
to channel irrigation water directly
to plant roots. Another is to fill the
pot with drought-tolerant plants
like these succulents.Text Black Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete #175 Dtp: 229 Page: 246700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 246 5/24/17 1:07 PM
More Container Concepts 247- Do not fill your strawberry pot completely
with soil and then try to push plants in
through the holes. Instead, fill the pot up to
the bottom rim of the lowest holes and then
plant from the inside out by pushing the
top of the plant out through the hole. It’s far
easier to gently jimmy the foliage out the hole
than it is to cram a big root ball in from the
outside. When those plants are in place, add
more potting mix until you reach the bottom
of the next set of holes and repeat the process
until you reach the top of the pot.- To prevent uneven growth, if possible turn
your strawberry pot a quarter turn every
few days to ensure all the plants receive
ample sunlight.
Large strawberry pot-style planters are an excellent way to grow a lot of plants in a small space. This planter is unique
in that it also serves as a worm composting system. Worms are added to the soil at planting time and kitchen scraps
are tossed down the central tube on a regular basis to feed the worms whose castings then feed the plants.Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete#175 Dtp: 229 Page: 246 (^) Text Black Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete #175 Dtp: 229 Page: 247
700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 247 5/24/17 1:07 PM