Pick the clean berries as they spill over the edge. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, for the best and biggest berries.
This strawberry fountain project is an easy way to grow strawberries without a lot of space. It keeps berries clean and easy to harvest. It’s an alternative to the popular strawberry jar containers. The key is keeping it watered because if it dries out, the fruit won’t form well. Of course, that is true for strawberries in the ground, too, but pots dry out faster. Follow the directions in the cutlines for putting the project together, and read through the tips below for more detail.
Don’t let it dry out. If you can, put this where you can hand water it every day during the growing season, or put it on a drip system for pots.
Pick out the largest pots that can you find. This bottom one measures 24 inches. Often pots come in sets of three or four sizes in the same style, just like these. You don’t have to use expensive containers. Plastic pots are usually the most economical and actually work very well because they stay moist better than clay and are much lighter weight and easier to handle. Even old black nursery pots will do if you have access to variety of large sizes. By the time they fill out the foliage will hide most of the container anyway.
Stack several lightweight pots filled with premium potting mix, starting from largest to smallest. Plant around the edge with good-sized strawberry plants. This fountain took 10 plants.
Use only premium potting mix. The best potting mix will grow the best berries, period. There is no cutting corners here. Compost and soil in containers will pack down, while potting mix is designed to stay fluffy.
Fertilize every week or two. Use Really good plant food. This herb and vegetable food has nutrients and growth stimulants that your plants will love.
Be ready for the off-season. Strawberries will overwinter in a pot but they may look brown and rough, so be prepared to move them out of sight. In cold climates, consider moving to a garage or place out of the extreme cold.
Get ready for runners. As the plants send out runners, or new plants, you can cut some off and plant them elsewhere or give them to your friends. Let a new one or two root in each layer of the “fountain” to replace mother plants after the first year. In the second year, when you see the soil start to sink, it will be time to take out the plants, divide or plant new ones, and start the fountain again.
©Steve Bawden 2005.