Planting A Strawberry Jar

Question:

I'm attempting to plant strawberries for the first time. Is there a type of strawberry that doesn't produce runners? How would I plant them in a strawberry pot/jar with side pockets?

Answer:

  • The Everbearing type of strawberries is the closest to runner-less strawberries. They are also the most productive as they produce three crops a year. Quinalt, Eversweet, and Ozark Beauty are just a few of the Everbearing varieties available.
  • June Bearer is the other commercially planted strawberry because it makes the largest berry. Allstar and Sequoia are June Bearing varieties. However, most homeowners will take quantity over size, so Everbearing Strawberries are preferred.
  • Strawberries grow equally well in a clay or ceramic Strawberry Jar with any commercial planting mix. With clay strawberry jars, keep the maturing berries from touching the jar. Clay strawberry jars are porous, so moisture escapes through the sides. This moisture will cause the berries to rot at the contact point.
  • Strawberries like a sunny location with five to six hours of direct sunlight daily. The first step is to fill the jar with soil up to the first series of openings and insert the plants through the side pockets.
    • Next, you insert a 'Drip Stake'  down the center to aid in water distribution as the plants mature.
    • You could also use a 3/4 "PVC pipe section with holes drilled in the sides. The soil need not be level with the edges of the pockets, as you need a depression for water. Next, add more soil/plants and repeat the process until all the side pockets are planted.
    • Next, add soil within an inch of up to one-half inch of the top of the container; finish adding your plants.
    • When growing strawberry plants, be very careful not to bury the crown of the plants. The crown is the fleshy area where the roots attach to its base. This needs to be at or just above the soil line. I'd water the plants with a Dramm Soft Rain Nozzle or watering wand and add water to the drip stake. The gentle stream of water doesn't splash soil all over the place.
  •  While strawberries do well in containers, it may not be ideal if you're looking for everyone in your household. The general rule of thumb is to plant five to ten berry plants per individual. So, a strawberry jar would be sufficient for one individual. Also, Everbearing Strawberry plants should be replaced every fourth year to keep the production even.

Note Drip Stakes are a water-wise method of deep watering shade and flowering trees. They are placed around the drip line of the trees. Water is then transported directly to the roots. The stakes are also designed to be used with drip irrigation systems and are moved as a tree matures.