How to Grow Strawberries in Pots: A Detailed Guide to Planting Time, How Many Plants per Pot, and Fruiting Time

Strawberry, also known as yangmei, dimei, diguo, hongmei, and strawberry, is a common perennial herbaceous plant in China. Because of its high nutritional value and considerable health benefits, it is widely cultivated. Nowadays many people like to grow it in pots, so when is the best time to plant potted strawberries? About how many plants per pot? How long until they bear fruit? How do you grow them?

Potted planting time:

Potted strawberries can be planted all year round. However, it is best to choose autumn. This is because the temperature most suitable for strawberry germination is 20°C~25°C, and autumn can provide natural conditions that meet this temperature, so the survival rate of strawberries is very high.

Spring planting:

To grow strawberries, you can either sow seeds or directly buy strawberry seedlings. They are generally quite easy to obtain from the market or online shops. However, if the planting time for strawberries is not chosen appropriately, not only will the survival rate be insufficient, but they may also fail to set fruit because the growing period is insufficient.

Spring is a good planting time. Spring temperatures rise higher and higher, which is also very suitable for the growth and development of strawberries. In the north, March and April are just right; if you buy ready-made strawberry seedlings, about two months after planting you can basically pick fresh strawberries. As for strawberries in vegetable greenhouses, they are planted in September and October; the earlier ones are picked in December or January, while the later ones are picked from March to May. This is basically consistent with the spring potting time mentioned above.

Autumn cultivation

Sowing strawberries in autumn should be said to be the best suitable planting period for strawberries. What should be noted here is that if sowing in autumn, you should directly choose strawberry seeds. Planting strawberries in autumn coincides with the greenhouse strawberry planting season. However, as far as China is concerned, the temperature difference between north and south is also very large. The further north you go, the colder the temperature, and the sowing period must accordingly be moved earlier. In places like Shenyang and Dalian, the time must be moved up to July or August for normal growth and development, so each region must also make corresponding adjustments. Overall, basically August to October is the sowing period for strawberries, because strawberries do not have an obvious dormancy period and can all achieve germination, growth, and development.

Of course, if time allows, the earlier you plant, the better (within the sowing period), so that the plants have sufficient time to grow and develop, can overwinter steadily, and the yield the following year is also more guaranteed. Even though they are potted, after all, we also hope to harvest strawberries.

How many plants per pot?

Under normal circumstances: for pots, it is advisable to choose a ceramic pot with a diameter of 20-30 cm. For a flowerpot like this, one plant per pot is enough. If it is an ordinary flowerpot at home, a small flowerpot only needs one plant, while for a large flowerpot, you should plant one every 30 cm.

How long until fruiting?

Generally, from seed planting to flowering and fruiting, strawberries only need 3~4 months, which is quite fast.

Planting techniques:

1. Sowing: buy ready-made seeds, then wrap them in a sandbag, soak them wet for 24 hours, and afterward put them in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0°C~3°C for low-temperature treatment, which takes 15 days.

2. Choose soil rich in humus as the growing medium. Then mix the treated seeds with fine sand and sow them in the afternoon.

3. Emergence: keep the temperature at 25°C, and seedlings will emerge in 15~25 days. During this process, be careful to keep the soil moist.

4. Light management. Strawberries like long periods of sunlight. Therefore, in winter they should be placed in a sunny spot on the balcony.

5. Fertilizing: because they can bloom several times a year, they consume a huge amount of energy. It is recommended to apply a compound fertilizer once a week.

6. Watering: strawberries like moisture but are afraid of drought. Therefore, when watering, it is recommended to water when the surface of the soil layer is almost dry.