Imagine…biting into a fresh, juicy, sweet strawberry. Anytime that you want! It’s ideal, isn’t it? Strawberries are one of those fruits that just screams “summer.” Please your taste buds, while making the most of your tiny yard and garden space. Let’s learn to grow strawberries; vertically!
Before you begin, you have to decide which kind of vertical strawberry structure you have room for. You can make a structure out of PVC pipe, inside of a pallet, inside a picket fence (yes, really!), or in a “strawberry pyramid.” Do some research before you decide, because the amount of space that you have available is everything! I like using PVC pipe best.
There are many advantages when it comes to growing strawberries vertically. For one, it allows you to pack a ton of strawberry plants, in a tiny amount of space! Who doesn’t love saving a little space here and there?
But guess what? Saving space isn’t the only benefit to a vertical gardening system. Did you know that growing berries off the ground helps protect against diseases and pests? Seriously. You’ll have the best berries around!
After you’ve determined what kind of structure you need, it’s time to get planting! It’s recommended that you plant strawberries on a cloudy day, or in the late afternoon. Place strawberries at least 8 inches apart (this means that you should drill holes in your structure about 8 inches apart) and never any closer. Next, pour soil on top of your structure, ensuring that every opening with a plant in it is filled and surrounded by soil. Choose a soil with a PH between 5.8 and 6.2. Be sure that the plants are fully surrounded. No exposed roots!
Always hang your vertical gardening system in an area that receives at least 8 hours of sunlight every day. Strawberry plants have an extremely shallow root system, and plants should be watered frequently. Keep soil moist! Most plants have to be watered a few times a week. How frequently you water your bushes will determine the size of the berries! More water equals bigger berries!
I liked the article, but more detail about the designs and better pictures would be very helpful.