The strawberry traffic light is a must on the snacking balcony. Once the last fruits have been eaten, balcony gardeners are faced with the question: How can you overwinter strawberries in the hanging basket? In this guide, read tried-and-tested instructions on how to easily get hanging strawberries through the winter.
How can you overwinter strawberries in a hanging basket?
To overwinter strawberries in hanging baskets, you should first cut back the tendrils and remove withered leaves. Then fertilize organically and water sparingly. Protect the hanging basket from frost by covering it with winter fleece (€23.00 on Amazon) and covering the substrate with straw or leaves.
Overwintering hanging strawberries – step-by-step instructions
Pruning after the last strawberry harvest is the first step on the way to overwintering. This is followed by modified care that prepares hanging strawberries for winter. The final measure before the first frost is a warm winter coat. The following instructions will guide you step by step through the simple program:
Cutting strawberries in the hanging basket
At the end of the harvest season, preparation for winter begins with pruning. Cut back the vines without damaging the heart of the perennial. Take this opportunity to remove the withered leaves and the last remaining flowers.
Exception: Hanging strawberries freshly planted in hanging baskets are not pruned before winter.
Set care to winter mode
In autumn, strawberries receive their main fertilization in hanging baskets. Adjust the water supply to the greatly reduced evaporation rate as a result of the vigorous pruning. This care prepares hanging strawberries for winter:
- Fertilize hanging strawberries organically after pruning
- Administer liquid fertilizer or loosen the substrate and incorporate sifted compost
- Watering more economically
Please rely on your instinct when pouring. The strawberry plants have no foliage except for their heart leaves and quickly suffer from waterlogging. Only when you no longer feel any moisture in the upper substrate layers, water sip by sip.
Equip strawberry traffic lights with winter protection
If the weather report announces the first frosty nights, it is time for suitable winter protection at the strawberry traffic light. How to protect hanging strawberries against frost:
- Cover the hanging traffic light with winter fleece (€23.00 at Amazon)
- Cover the substrate with straw, sawdust, bark mulch or leaves
- Important: Do not cover the strawberry plant so that it can breathe
In cold winter regions, to be on the safe side, place a breathable fleece or pine twigs over the strawberry plant in the hanging basket. On frost-free days, use a finger test to check whether the strawberry basket needs to be watered.
Tip
Monthly strawberries promise fruity snacking pleasure when the tendrils dangle down from the traffic lights with their sweet load. The premium variety for strawberry hanging baskets is 'Merosa' with bite-sized fruits and a wonderful wild strawberry aroma. 'Hummi Praliné' does what the name promises and delights with sugar-sweet, red strawberries in mini format.
