Red fruits can now be bought in the supermarket almost all year round, but only those who bathe in the ripening period in the hot rays of the sun can delight us with their unique aroma and taste.In June we can eat delicious, juicy strawberries to our heart's content, whether from our own garden, or bought at a market stall or in a shop.
And then what? After all, fertile garden and commercial varieties bear fruit only until the end of June. Fortunately, we can replace them with varieties that repeat fruiting, such as' Camara ',' Cupido, 'Albion', 'Elan', 'Verity', 'Selva' and others.They will help us extend the strawberry season until the end of October. And they don't necessarily have to grow in a flower bed. They will also be satisfied with the more modest living conditions in the pot.
The cultivars that repeat, or actually flower and bear fruit continuously for many months, are more similar to the Fragaria vesca wild strawberry, from which all forms of strawberries are derived. Their fruits are smaller, but very aromatic, and also set on runners.Growing in pots has the advantage that long runners can hang freely from the container without touching the ground.If we plant several strawberries in large containers, it is worth mulching them with straw or sawdust.
Strawberries that bear repeated fruiting are most often planted in the spring. In this case, it is worth adding organic fertilizer to the ground so that the plants develop more flowers.Good sunlight has a great influence on the development of strawberries, flowering and fruit setting, as well as improves their taste and aroma. Therefore, containers with plants should be placed in places with a southern exposure.
It is very important to water well and evenly. The substrate in the containers should never dry out. In the fall, prune the strawberries very hard.The containers should be placed in one place under the sheltered wall of the house.Strawberries usually lose their strength after two years of fruiting and new ones should be planted.
Growing strawberries in balcony boxes
Strawberries, just like balcony flowers, can be grown in different containers without any problems.
1. The root ball should be thoroughly saturated with water so that the strawberry can endure transplanting well. Keep the pot immersed until no more air bubbles appear.
2. Transfer the seedling from the plastic pot straight to the hole in the ground filling the balcony box.The container should have openings at the bottom to drain excess water.At the bottom we put a drainage layer made of expanded clay.
3. We add the soil, press it firmly and carefully level the surface.
4. We place a balcony box with strawberries and, for example, nemeses, added to beautify the arrangement, in a sunny place, but at noon it is worth protecting it from the scorching rays of the sun.
