Growing strawberry indoors lets you harvest the dulcet yield year - round .
Denny Schrock
Most gardenersgrow strawberriesin outdoor beds and harvest fresh berry in summer . However , with a moment of know - how and the right gardening supplies , you’re able to master the art of growing strawberry indoors and amass ripe and juicy strawberries from your plants in any time of year . Whether you want to growstrawberries in potson a sunny windowsill or in asmall backyard glasshouse , this guide explains how to grow strawberries indoors in a small space .
Credit:Denny Schrock
How to Grow Strawberries Indoors
Growing strawberries indoors has a passel give out for it . The plants do n’t occupy much space and are suitable for urban gardening . Strawberries are also non - toxic to cats and dogs , and the indoor plant are much less prostrate to pests that often attack outdoor strawberry . Even though indoor strawberry do n’t fruit as prolifically as outdoor plant , you may still produce an ample crop of berries by following these 8 simple bakshish .
1. Choose roomy pots.
Strawberry plants have a relatively unforesightful root system , so you do n’t need massive pots to grow them . container that are about 8 inches deep by 12 inches all-embracing provide enough space for three strawberry plants , or you’re able to keep a individual plant in a 6- or 8 - in container . Terra - cotta pots , hanging planters , andhydroponic countertop setupsare all suitable for grow strawberry as long as the growing containers have drain jam at the bottom .
2. Select the right strawberry varieties.
Technically , all character of strawberries can be grown indoors , butday - neutral strawberry plants , like ‘ Albion ’ and ‘ Florida Beauty ’ , are normally the good option for indoor garden . Other strawberry variety bloom and yield accord to day length , producing most of their crop during the retentive years of summer . However , day - neutral strawberries stand fruit regardless of 24-hour interval length . They can keep fruiting as long as they receive plenty of light and water and the temperature remains between 40 ° F and 90 ° F .
3. Use a rich potting mix.
you could implant indoor strawberries any prison term of the yr . They grow best if you plant them so their pate are at the soil parentage and not compensate with grunge . When uprise strawberries indoors , pick out a caliber potting mixture that drains well and is rich in nutrients .
To give your plants an spare boost , mixa handful of compostor worm castings into the potting mixture before you implant .
4. Provide lots of light.
One of the trickiest parts of hold back strawberry indoors is guarantee that yourplants get enough lightthroughout the twelvemonth . gay , south - face windows that receive at least 6 to 8 hours of smart light daily provide the best surround for indoor berry plants . However , grow lightsleft on for 12 to 16 hour a day are also suitable . Remember to rotate your plants regularly to keep them from load raggedly toward the lighting .
5. Add slow-release fertilizer.
6. Water regularly.
Like other edible plants , strawberries postulate water regularly . Indoor strawberries typically need less piddle than out-of-door flora , but they should be water at least once a calendar week or when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry . dayspring or early good afternoon are the best times to piss strawberry . It ’s best towater the plants from the bottomso their leaf do n’t get sloshed .
7. Hand-pollinate flowers.
Bees and insects typically pollinate out-of-door strawberries , but indoor plants must be hand - cross-pollinate to set yield . Pollinate strawberry by lightly brushing a cotton swab or little paint brush over the plant ’s flowers . handwriting - pollinate strawberries every few days during the growing time of year to assure pollen reaches every flower that bloom .
8. Be patient.
Indoor strawberry plants grow quick after they ’re lay down , but the plants take longer to produce berries than outdoor plants . Nursery protrude and bare - rootstrawberries begin fruitingabouttwo to three monthsafter planting , butplants develop from runnersor seeds usually do n’t fruit until their second twelvemonth . After the plants are mature , harvest the strawberry when they ’re fully ripe and red and use them quick-frozen , dehydrated , or unfermented instrawberry shortcakeand other delicious strawberry formula .
Frequently Asked Questions
strawberry are short - lived perennials that become less productive after a few year of growth . Many gardener exchange strawberry plants when they are three to five years honest-to-god , and the harvest size diminishes .
Day - inert strawberry varieties fruit and efflorescence regardless of day length . When go on outdoors , day - impersonal strawberry typically fruit sporadically until the first kill rime of fall . However , these plant can fruit even longer when they ’re grown indoors .
twenty-four hours - neutral hemangioma simplex can develop a few runner , but not as many runners as June - bearing strawberries . This makes day - neutral plants easier to keep in containers because they ’re less probable to sprawl .
