Strawberries in hanging containers
Question from Patty:
What do you think are the best strawberries for growing here (Olivenhain) in those vertical hydroponic (cocoa fiber media) towers?
THANKS!
Answer from Pat:
Early November (right now!) is the perfect time to plant strawberries. Easiest strawberry to grow in any strawberry pot or hanging basket or coir (cocoa fiber) hydroponic container is the alpine strawberry. These can be purchased through catalogues and at some nurseries. There are two main varieties: One bears yellow fruit, the other red. Flavor is delicious but harvests small, though almost non-stop year round.
Conventional varieties that do well in your climate include ‘Camarillo’, ‘Douglas’, ‘Sequoia’, ‘Tioga’ or ‘Tufts’. Any of these can be grown in containers. My opinion is that ‘Sequoia’ are spectacular and flavorless. The plant also is big so try to get something better. I like ‘Camarillo’ or ‘Douglas’. Every variety has different characteristics. Some are early-bearing, some late, so do your research or ask at the nursery.
Best thing to do right now is to go to a good local nursery and look for bareroot plants of the variety you want and get them planted into your hydroponic contraption before November 12.
If you have not already done so, please read the detailed advice on strawberries on pages 382 and 388 in my organic gardening book. There is much to learn on this subject. The index will lead you to such additional information as how to grow and pre-chill your own transplants each year for abundant harvests.
HELP! I have missed the planting timeline for strawberries. I live in Laguna Beach, CA. I still have my strawberry plants from last year and they were excellent producers. I hate to just dig them up and compost them. Would love to re-use but, at this point, not sure if it is practical to do so. So…a few questions for you if you don’t mind…
1. Your book says to let the runners grow out when the plant is done producing. However, I grow my strawberries in pots and there is no additional soil for the long runners to take root. My plants appear to have healthy new growth. Can I dig them out, section off anything old that I see and replant for this season?
2. If the answer to the first question is “yes”, then do I still have time to get them back in even though we are weeks behind the Nov. 10 deadline? Or, should I scrap these and re-purchase? If I can re-use these, should I chill or just get back in the pots asap?
Lots of questions for you. Can you help? Thanks so much! And thank you for all you do for gardeners like myself! Jill
Regarding runners: You could root them in water in August or September. But as you pointed out you missed the early November planting schedule and also to do this right you should have begun in early fall and chilled the runners six weeks in the refrigerator. So here is my suggestion. Rock along the way things are for the winter and in January look for pre-chilled bareroot strawberry plants at a fine local nursery. Ask the nursery now when they expect their bareroot strawberries will arrive after the first of the year. It may not be until early February. Plant them immediately and you should be off to the races. However, perhaps the only variety you will find is Sequoia which is not the best. If none of your local nurseries plan to carry them, here is a nursery in Orange County that does carry them and also gives gardeners some good information on varieties, be sure to phone ahead to find out what varieties they will carry next year and when: http://www.lagunahillsnursery.com/gary-strawberries.htm