This is what a flower box for strawberries should be like
As heavy consumers, strawberries need a larger volume of soil, from which they draw nutrients and water. A flower box (€ 13.18 at Amazon *) should have the following properties so that strawberry plants feel at home in it:
- Height: 18-20 cm
- Width: 22-25 cm
- Length: 80-100 cm
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Ideally, the flower box has an irrigation system (€ 69.29 on Amazon *) in the form of a separate level below the floor. The very thirsty strawberry plants can help themselves here. A water level indicator tells you when to top up the supply. At least there should be several openings in the floor so that excess irrigation water can run off there.
Checklist for correct planting and care
The key factors for the successful cultivation of strawberries in flower boxes are briefly and concisely specified in the following checklist:
- a sunny, air-bathed location
- Nutritious, slightly acidic substrate based on compost with loosening components such as perlite (€ 32.90 at Amazon *) or sand
- a drainage above the floor opening prevents waterlogging
- Do not plant strawberry plants deeper than the heart bud
- the planting distance is 20-30 centimeters
- water regularly and fertilize organically
- Mulching with leaves, straw or bark keeps the soil warm and moist
If you want to harvest your strawberries while standing, you can plant them in a flower box with an integrated trellis. Since the tendrils do not have organs that allow them to climb independently, they are regularly attached to their climbing aid.
Take care of the harvest
Proper harvesting of strawberries requires a little attention. In normal years, the strawberry season starts in May. Only harvest fully colored fruits without a greenish-white border. Bend this on the fruit stalk, along with the green leaves.
Tips & Tricks
Strawberries can overwinter in the flower box because they are frost-tolerant. After the harvest, the leaves and tendrils are cut off, except for the heart bud. Set up in front of the south wall of the house on a wooden or styrofoam plate, covered with fir fronds and brushwood, the plants survive the winter here. The strawberry plants are given a sip of water on frost-free days.
