Growing Organic Strawberries On Terrace - In Pots

Growing Organic Strawberries on Terrace

Here, today in this article we are going to discuss growing organic strawberries on the terrace. In this article, we also going discuss the below topics:

Introduction to growing organic strawberries on the terrace
Types of strawberries to grow on the terrace
Organic soil for growing organic strawberries on terrace
Sunlight requirement for growing organic strawberries on terrace
Choosing a suitable container for growing organic strawberries on terrace
Propagation of the strawberry plant
Propagation with seeds for growing organic strawberries on terrace
Propagation of strawberry from runners on the terrace
Best organic fertilizers for growing organic strawberries on terrace
Benefits of using homemade fertilizer for growing organic strawberries on terrace
Water requirement for growing organic strawberries on terrace
Pruning of strawberry plant on the terrace
Pests and diseases of strawberry plant
How to harvest strawberries?
Frequently asked question for growing strawberry plants

A Step-By-Step Guide to Growing Organic Strawberries on Terrace

Strawberries are easy to grow and they are shallow-rooted plants. Strawberries will become a great addition to your terrace garden. They are in beautiful fan-shaped leaves and with stunning white flowers to their aromatic and juicy fruit. They belong to the rose family (Rosaceae). Strawberries just require a shallow, wide container or pot. They also require rich soil and plenty of sunlight. You need to take care of signs of pests. Strawberries are packed with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. Strawberries can lower your blood pressure and they are sodium-free, fat-free, and low-calorie fruit. They are a low-growing plant. The flowers of the strawberry plant are generally white.

Types/Varieties of Strawberries to Grow on Terrace

Four types of strawberries are listed below:

Everbearing strawberries

These strawberries can be harvested throughout the growing season.

June-bearing strawberries

These strawberries can be harvested from mid-June to early July. These are a great option for short term gardening. They yield lots of strawberries in 2-3 weeks.

Day-neutral strawberries

These strawberries are ready to harvest in June, in the middle of July, and late August.

Alpine strawberries

It is also known as wild strawberries. They make the planting process easy.

Organic Soil for Growing Organic Strawberries on Terrace

Strawberries are perennials and they like slightly acidic. Strawberries need lots of organic matter and rich soil. The pH level of soil should be 5.5 to 6.5 which means slightly acidic. It will do best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

They do well in any kind of potting mix. Be sure of buying potting mix, not potting soil. Potting mix and potting soil are different you need to notice it. You can also add about 1/2 cup of compost, rotted manure, and some amount of peat moss. Mix both the potting mix and manure well before planting the strawberry plant.

**Soil for Growing Organic Strawberries** (Pic Credit: Pixabay)

Sunlight Requirement for Growing Organic Strawberries on Terrace

Strawberry plant grows best in 8 hours of direct sunlight. Then, you need to place your strawberry plant where there are good airflow and direct sunlight for most of the day. During the months of hot summer, you need to remove your plant from the part of the sun area.

Put the plant in the area where there are 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight throughout the whole day. Letting the required amount of sunlight will be helpful for the plant’s healthy growth. if there is no essential sunlight for your plant it may drop leaves and grow week.

Choosing a Suitable Container for Growing Organic Strawberries on Terrace

Choose a container that is 16–18 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom of the container so that water can drain from the container easily. Terracotta pots, growing beds, window boxes, and hanging boxes may all work for growing strawberries on the terrace.

If you want to use a hanging box for your strawberry plant, it is very important to make sure that the plant does not dry out easily. You need to keep away the hanging box from windy areas and feel the soil often to see if it is dry. But choosing the right size is very important.

**Suitable Container for Growing Organic Strawberries** (Pic Source: Pixabay)

Propagation for Growing Organic Strawberries on Terrace

There are two different ways to propagate a strawberry plant. They are listed below:

Propagation from seeds
Propagation by runners

Propagation of Strawberry from Seeds on Terrace

First, cut the slices of the strawberry with the seeds still attached to them.
Then fill a small pot, container, or a seed starting flat tray with potting soil. Spray the water to the soil to moisten it. Put the slices on the soil in the pot, container, or seed starting tray.
After that cover the slices with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite. Then again spray water on it to attain water.
After that, you need to cover the pot with plastic wrap or with any cover and place it in a warm area to germinate. You should not place the container or pot in direct sunlight.
The germination process takes 2 to 8 weeks. You need to be patient. You need to check daily for a sign of sprouting, as soon as they appear, remove the plastic wrap.
Completely after 10 to 12 weeks, you will have a few strawberry plants sprouting in the pot or container. Once your strawberry plant has its 3 true leaves, they can be transplanted into their permanent place.
You need to make sure that soil is well-drained and loamy with organic fertilizer.
After that mulch with dry grass, around the plant to keep it from drying out.

Propagation of Strawberry from Runners on Terrace

1) It is the easiest method. This is the best method and 100% guarantee success in getting a new strawberry plant.

2) Strawberry plant gives several runners. They look like horizontal stems attached to the plant which has a new plant emerging at the end. When these runners come into contact with the soil, they develop roots and form a beautiful new plant.

3) Just you need to place the end of the runner, with the leaves attached in a new container that is filled with potting soil and organic compost.

4) Always make sure the soil should be moist. You should not water on the leaves of the plant.

Best Fertilizers for Growing Organic Strawberries on Terrace

Organic fertilizers have that natural blend and they are rich that strawberries like. Besides, the organic fertilizers might be made from kitchen waste, but they can stabilize through drying. Organic fertilizers might not be a quick fix like the chemical ones but they give very well growth to your strawberry plant.

You need to use a blood meal to the top layer of soil at the beginning stage. Strawberry plants grow very well for regular feedings of fertilizers that are higher in Nitrogen (N) value. Then, you need to apply one dose of blood meal in the starting season, and followed by a monthly dose of seaweed or fish emulsion. You can apply homemade fertilizer weekly once. Strawberry plant grows well to homemade also fertilizers like tea, buttermilk, rice water, and eggshells.

Benefits of Using Homemade Fertilizer for Your Strawberry Plant

Using buttermilk helps the strawberry plant to fight with fungal infections like black spots and powdery mildew
Rice water contains the unpolished rice contains a high level of Vitamin B, which helps in new root growth of your plant
Eggshells are one of the best homemade fertilizers for the strawberry plant. Crushed eggshell provides Calcium to your plant and one of the best nutrients for the plant’s well-being. Calcium promotes plant growth as well as green foliage and a robust root system.

Water Requirement for Growing Organic Strawberry Plant

Strawberry plants need regular water to survive, especially during fruit-bearing season or time, and strawberry plants need an average of 1-2 inches of water daily. Using a drip or soaker hose is the best way to water strawberry plants. You need to place this drip at least two inches away from the plant. Keep the soil moist but not soggy because strawberry roots are shallow. You should not overwater the plant if the soil is high in clay. During fruiting season, plants do not dry out in between watering, if done the fruit may susceptible to rot. You need to avoid watering in the evening for this reason. When you are using strawberry pots, you need to check them regularly to ensure the soil doesn’t get too dry.

Pruning of Strawberry Plant on Terrace

You should never prune a healthy, green leaf that is still functional. These healthy, green leaves are the regions of the plant that manufacture fruit, and removing them can decrease your strawberry yields. No matter what time of year it is, pruning should be done for brown or diseased leaves. Even pruning your plants before this time can also decrease fruit yields. The only thing you should do before the period of pruning is to remove dead leaves.

Prune June-bearing strawberries after the last harvest. Before 1 week at the last harvest, prune the leaves of your June-bearing strawberries 1 inch above the plant crowns. After you’re done pruning, you should not prune again until next year. Anything done earlier will destroy the newer growth of your plant.

In case if you miss this: Container Gardening for Beginners.

Pests and Diseases of Strawberry Plant

Pests and control methods are listed below:

Aphids

Symptoms – A small soft-bodied insects on the underside of leaves or stems of a plant. They are usually green or yellow.

Management – An aphid’s population can be limited by pruning of old and infected leaves of the strawberry plant.

Armyworm

Symptoms – Egg clusters may be present on the leaves and you will observe holes on the leaves.

Management – Using organic or homemade fertilizer can reduce them.

Loopers

Symptoms – You can observe large or small holes in leaves. They are pale green with white lines running down either side of their body.

Management – Spraying liquid fertilizer can reduce their population.

Thrips

Symptoms – They damage the flowers of the strawberry plant.

Management- You need to avoid planting next to other plants like onion, garlic.

Weevils

Symptoms – You will observe notches on the leaves.

Management – keep strawberry plants free from weeds and grass.

Spider mites

Symptoms – leaves of the strawberry plant may appear brown and with yellow stripes.

Management – overwatering your plant can be helpful to reduce spider mites.

Diseases and control measures are listed below:

Angular leaf spot

Symptoms – Dark green spots on leaves of the strawberry plant.

Management – Avoid overwatering your plant.

Leaf scorch

Symptoms – Dark purple or brown blotches on the upper surface of leaves.

Management – You need to plant in an area where there are good air circulation and drainage in full sun.

Gray mold

Symptoms – Flowers may turn brown and they may dry.

Management – Remove all dead leaves or infected material.

Leaf spot

Symptoms – small spots on leaves and fruit.

Management – You need to plant disease-free stock.

Phomopsis leaf blight

Symptoms – Red and purple spots on leaves of the strawberry plant.

Management – Removing all the leaves after harvesting.

Powdery mildew

Symptoms – White fungal growth on leaves.

Management – Use organic fertilizers mentioned above.

Red stele

Symptoms – Stops the growth of the plant and leaves may turn yellow.

Management – Avoid transferring soil from contaminated areas.

Slugs

Symptoms – Irregular spots on leaves and stem of the plant.

Management – Removing of weeds and dead plants.

How to Harvest Strawberries?

Once the strawberry is fully colored, you need to pick the fruit with about one-quarter of the stem attached. In the morning, when the strawberries are still cool, that is the best time for picking strawberry fruit.

Strawberries are very delicate fruit and bruise very easily, so you must take care when harvesting them. This fruit will degrade faster, while other berries last longer and store better. Some varieties of strawberry are very easier to pick, as they readily snap off with a portion of stem attached. Other varieties, like Sparkle, bruise very easily and care must be taken when snapping the stem of them. The best and better way to harvest strawberries is to first you need to grasp the stem between your forefinger and thumbnail, and then you need to lightly pull and twist the fruit at the same time. Then place the fruit in the container. Continue harvesting in this way, taking care is most important. If you want to harvest them without a cap then use this method. Again, grasp the stem pointed right behind the cap and gently squeeze them against the cap with your second finger. The berry should easily pull out itself, leaving behind the cap secure upon the stem. You need to remove any damaged strawberries as you harvest the good ones. You need to remove bad ones to discourage plant rot. You should not pick berries with green tips, because they are unripe. Refrigerate the berries as soon as possible once harvested, but remember you do not wash them until you are ready to use them.

Frequently Asked Question for Growing Organic Strawberry Plant

What is the strawberry yield per plant?

The average yield per plant is 150-400 grams.

What to do when strawberry plants finished fruiting?

After harvesting your plant, you need to remove the straw or matting that has been protecting fruit from the ground. Then cut off old leaves. Feed well and water well.

What to do for my strawberry plant to produce more fruits?

You need to plant in well-drained soil and feed them with organic fertilizer, water them regularly.

Do strawberry plants regrow?

Taking care is most important, as long as you take proper care of them, they will come back and they will regrow.

Growing Organic Strawberries On Terrace – In Pots

Table of Contents