Growing strawberries – they are easy to grow in GreenSmart self watering planters and if you plant in winter and spring in NZ you will have great tasting strawberries in early summer. April to June is the best time to start growing strawberries in most parts of NZ. The winter months will increase plant vigour and result in more fruit. In chillier southern parts they should be planted in August or September. The plants are frost-hardy but the flowers don’t withstand frost
planting out strawberry runners
Tips for growing strawberries in your GreenSmart Self Watering Planters
What are the Best Conditions for Growing Strawberries?
What are “strawberry runners”? These are small baby plants that shoot off from the main mother plant as a long runner and establish their own roots. Simply snip some of these runners off from a friend’s strawberries or buy them in your local garden centre. Trim the roots back to a maximum of 10 cm and remove any discoloured leaves. Heap up two small ridges of potting mix for the runners and ensure that the ‘crown’ (the part between the leaves and the roots) of the runner is above ground. For best results tuck pine needles or straw under the leaves. Strawberries love moderately acidic conditions. They require full sun – at least 6-8 hours per day. They like well drained soil with plenty of organic matter…the soil can’t be too rich. Plant 10 runners in a large GreenSmartTM pot. They hate having wet feet so the self watering planter provides perfect watering conditions. Most NZ areas get sufficient rain during the period May to October so the GreenSmart pot will catch plenty of rain and you won’t need to worry about adding water into the water sight glass until the plants are more mature in the warmer months. The self watering mechanism will take care of water requirements until they become thirsty over summer. Avoid overhead watering as it encourages fungal disease on the leaves.
How long should I keep my strawberry plants?
Replace the plants after three seasons. Don’t allow the plants to establish runners during its first year. Pinch them off as soon as they appear. You want the energy to go into fruit – not runners.
What sort of Fertiliser is required for growing strawberries?
Enrich the potting mix with plenty of organic material ….. eg poultry or sheep pellets, Yates Dynamic Lifter, blood and bone. Heavy rain will wash some of the fertiliser down into the water reservoir from where the self watering action of the wicking section will provide water to the plants by its capillary action. Alternatively you can use specific strawberry fertilisers from your garden centre. Do not use lime. Once the plants start growing you can add liquid fertiliser into the water sight glass.
Pests and Diseases Be watchful for slugs and snails feasting on your red strawberries. Sprinkle a little snail bait around the plants when fruit is ripening.
Companions They like the company of spinach so you can add in a few spinach plants between the strawberries. The faster growing spinach will be ready during the winter. Avoid planting strawberries where peppers, tomatoes, egg plants and potatoes have previously been grown.
Happy gardening,
Bill.
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