A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 strawberries in a container

My question is...should I snip off the runners of my plant if it's being grown in a container?

I'm guessing yes. They are looking for soil to root in and spread so I doubt they're helpful in berry production.

Thank you LMT,
That's what I thought. I just didn't want to go ahead and do it without a second opinion.

There are about 5 of them.

This is good to know, cuz I have a big pot that I put some in, and they just sent out a few runners as well. Thanks Pheonix!

Actually Phoenix, strawberry plants will grow and produce for 3 to 4 years, so if you plan on growing them for longer than one season, you should leave the vines on as then you will get more fruit next year.
Here's a link with a bit of information on growing in containers, especially hanging pots.
http://www.gardening-guides.com/art...its/berries/hanging-plant-strawberry.htm

OH MY GOSH

Guess it's a good thing it's too hot outside & I went to take a nap instead! LOL. Thanks obywan.

I bought 2 round containers that are about 34 inches round that I'm planning on planting strawberries in. They are about 12 inches deep. Is this going to be deep enough? Do I put them out after the danger of frost is over?

Sheri, I think they will be great. I am planning on 3 hanging baskets and they are not super deep, but I want them hanging to the runners can trail. Show us pics once you get yours set up. I will do the same.

When are you going to put yours out?

I dunno, soon as I get some money. I saw the baskets I want (will get 3, maybe 4) and also the boxes of 10 Strawberry plants (will get 2 of those). I even have a place to hang them and am going to put up a spinning hook to the one already out there so I can move them around so they all get the sun. Just a matter of money now. But we are a lot closer to spring than you are.

I grow Quinalt strawberries in a strawberry jar.
Quinalts will set fruit on the runners, so if you're growing Quinalts you don't need to clip them.
By the way, watering the jar is so hard ! It dries out so quickly. But I guess my plants are happy, I get lots of fruit.
I bought the jar pre-planted so I couldn't do the PVC pipe thing for watering.

Thanks for the info.

What is the PVC pipe thing???

You're welcome, Bestofour.
Triss, the PVC pipe thing is having an empty pocket jar, and before filling and planting, to stand PVC pipe, drilled every 2 inches, inside the pot. Then when you water, the water goes through the holes and waters the pockets.

That is an awesome idea. What is a "pocket jar"?

You've seen the pots, about 2 feet tall, rounded, with pockets all around the sides and the large opening on top? They are actually called "ollas". Olla, pronounced "oy-ya" is Spanish for "jar".
Most people plant ollas, or pocket pots, with either strawberries or herbs. I like both.
I can't take credit for the PVC pipe idea-I saw it on a gardening show years ago ! Thanks though ! : ) Does anyone have a picture of a pocket pot that you could put in here for Triss to see?

Ok, I know what that is. I just call it a strawberry pot I am planning on a couple of them, one for strawberries and one with herbs. Will use the PVC for sure!

Here is a recent thread about Strawberry pots and towers that might answer a lot of the things you might be wondering about planting & raising Strawberries in containers.

I hope you all have fun with the various things you're growing Strawberries in this year! (The most important thing to remember when doing them in containers, is to KEEP THEM WATERED... especially if you have hot summers.)

Triss, the PVC should be lower then the rim of the jar, so you don't see the top of it sticking up. You can plant a strawberry on each side of the pipe to fill in the top. Or two plants of your choice.
I had a look at your website-beautiful family !
Patty, thanks for the thread on strawberry culture !

Thanks for that Deborah. I will take pics as I go once I get to that point. Will be great to see here for others who want to do it.

And thank you for the compliment on my family.

I call them strawberry pots too. And they are difficult to keep watered. Last year I put pansys in mine and it was beautiful. I've put dianthus, petunias and begonias in it before. I'm gonna try the PVC thing too.

I bet those were pretty Sheri! I may have to get a bunch of them.

I couldn't resist and bought another strawberry jar today, preplanted with various herbs. I was happy to see that my favorite herb, sweet marjoram, was in it.
Because it's already planted I can't do the PVC pipe thing - again !
I chose carefully so as not to get a jar with mint. Mint would overtake everything else.
Also treated myself to a dwarf Valencia orange tree ! What a nice day !