Nibbling refreshing strawberries from a lounge chair on the balcony doesn't have to be a pipe dream. A we alth of delicious varieties thrive easily in planters. We explain here what you should pay attention to when planting and caring for strawberries on the balcony.
How to plant strawberries on the balcony?
To plant strawberries on the balcony, you need a sunny location, suitable planters such as balcony boxes, nutrient-rich substrate and young plants. Maintain a planting distance of 20-25 cm and mulch the soil for optimal yields.
The ideal location
Strawberries are real sunshine children. The more sunlight hits the fruit, the more delicious its taste. The herbaceous plants thrive perfectly on a south-facing balcony. In a semi-shady location you don't have to miss out on strawberry fun, because wild strawberries or monthly strawberries can be grown here.
Recommended substrate – suitable planters
Strawberry plants are among the typical heavy feeders. This assignment already indicates that they need a nutrient-rich substrate. At the same time, this should be loose so that the roots can establish themselves well. The following qualities are recommended:
- high-quality potting soil based on compost, enriched with perlite or expanded clay
- alternatively good garden soil, mixed with compost, horse manure or rotted stable manure
- ideally add some peat, ericaceous or rhododendron soil for the acidic component
Balcony boxes are the perfect planters for almost all strawberry varieties. Hanging strawberries are the ideal candidates for hanging baskets, while the climbing varieties are preferably grown in boxes with integrated trellises.
Planting strawberries on the balcony is so easy
Every garden center will have a large selection of pre-grown young plants available from spring. So that you can snack on refreshing strawberries all summer long, we recommend growing mixed varieties with divergent harvest times. Planting is always carried out according to the following scheme:
- Create drainage in the planter above the bottom opening with potsherds or gravel
- fill in the substrate and drill a depression in it with twice the volume of the root ball
- plant the young plant so deep that the heart bud is not covered with soil
- maintain a planting distance of 20 to 25 centimeters
Last but not least, water the strawberry plants well and spread a layer of mulch. Suitable materials are straw, compost, leaves or pine needles.
Uncomplicated care program
If the location and soil conditions are correct, strawberries on the balcony do not require particularly extensive care. The focus is on an adequate supply of water and nutrients. The substrate must neither dry out nor become completely wet. Since strawberries appreciate a slightly acidic environment, collected rainwater is preferred.
We recommend natural materials as fertilizer, such as compost, horse manure or ferns. Artificial fertilizers transport substances into the strawberries that no one wants to eat. Hobby gardeners without their own compost resort to adequate commercial products (€15.00 on Amazon), which are now available as pellets or liquid fertilizer.
Tips & Tricks
The yield, taste and shelf life of strawberries are significantly improved by potassium. A natural source of this nutrient is comfrey, also known as beeweed. If you use the leaves of comfrey in the bed and in the planter on the balcony as mulch, the cell tissue strengthens, the fruits ripen better and the plant is more resistant to diseases and pests.
