Growing strawberries on the balcony is a great option for those who do not have their own garden, but have a great desire to enjoy the taste of sweet and aromatic berries grown with their own hands.
The varieties of small-fruited and large-fruited garden strawberries described below are able to put up with a lack of light and a limited area of nutrition and at the same time give a good harvest for several years.
Alexandria
This small-fruited strawberry looks especially impressive in hanging pots and can decorate a loggia or balcony no worse than popular annuals. When the harvest begins to ripen on the bushes of Alexandria, the leaves on them are practically invisible. The heart-shaped berries are quite large, have a subtle aroma of forest strawberries, tolerate transportation well and can be stored for several days without loss of taste.
Baron Solemacher
This variety of small-fruited strawberry is distinguished by powerful sprawling bushes that practically do not form mustaches. The plants have an original appearance, they are perfect for decorating alpine slides, and will also look great in balcony boxes and hanging planters.
Baron Solemacher is a completely unpretentious variety that is practically unaffected by diseases. And the aromatic berries of this strawberry will not leave anyone indifferent!
Seasons
The berries of this small-fruited strawberry are slightly elongated, intensely red in color and with a very aromatic pulp, similar in taste and smell to wild strawberries. They are perfect not only for home preparations, but also for sale.
Another difference of the variety Seasons of the year - unusual decorativeness. Bushes on long flower stalks look very impressive in hanging planters.
Yellow miracle
Beardless variety of small-fruited strawberry. An excellent option for those who want to diversify their balcony berry collection and replenish it with a variety with delicate, yellow-cream berries that can not only be eaten fresh, but also used for various desserts and preparations. The vitamin value of the fruits of the Yellow Miracle is the same as that of varieties with red fruits, but, unlike the latter, they can be eaten by people with allergies and children suffering from diathesis.
Regina
This unpretentious variety of small-fruited remontant strawberry can be grown both indoors and in pots on a balcony or terrace. Plants perfectly adapt to the heat and tolerate even infrequent watering. Bushes are very decorative, they are perfect for creating plant compositions. The taste of Regina's berries is like a real forest strawberry. It is simply impossible to tear yourself away!
Eva's suite
This remontant type of large-fruited garden strawberry tolerates heat well and is able to form ovaries even with insufficient lighting. Therefore, Eva's Suite is perfect for growing in a greenhouse and on a balcony. A distinctive feature of the variety is honey-sweet dark maroon berries, exuding a unique aroma of forest strawberries. You can not only eat them fresh and freeze them, the berries of this variety make excellent jam.
Elsanta
If you want to grow strawberries with large and sweet fruits on your balcony, pay attention to this variety. Elsanta feels great not only on the balcony, but also in the apartment. Puts up with insufficient lighting. The crop yields well in May-June. The berries are quite large, up to 45 g, with an original shape and exquisite taste.
How to grow strawberries on a balcony
Of course, it will be difficult to achieve the productivity declared by the manufacturers on the balcony or windowsill, but it is quite possible to collect a decent harvest of delicious berries. To do this, it is enough to follow a few simple rules.
Rule 1. Orient yourself around the world
The south side of the house or the one illuminated by the sun in the afternoon are optimal for strawberries. The ideal option is a glazed balcony, but an open one is also suitable. When growing strawberries on a glazed balcony or loggia, do not forget about regular ventilation.
Rule 2. Choose the right containers
It doesn't matter what you will grow strawberries in - in hanging pots, balcony boxes or plastic buckets. The main rule: one plant should have at least 3 liters of substrate. Choose containers that are deep enough so that a 3-5 centimeter layer of drainage can be poured into the bottom of them. Also, do not forget about the drainage holes for the removal of excess moisture.
When growing several plants in one container, plant strawberry seedlings at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other and at least 7 cm from the walls of the containers.
Rule 3. Prepare the nutrient substrate
The soil for strawberries should be loose and nutritious and have a slightly acidic reaction (pH 5.5-6.0). You can buy a ready-made mixture in a specialized store or prepare it yourself. Here are some suitable options:
- sand, sod land, peat (1:3:6);
- peat, sod land, humus (1:1:1);
- peat, sawdust or perlite (1:2);
- peat, humus, biohumus (2:1:1).
Before planting the seedlings, fill the containers filled with the substrate with a solution of potassium permanganate or any fungicide for disinfection.
Rule 4. Do not forget about fertilizing and watering
Every two weeks, feed strawberries with any complex fertilizer with trace elements (according to the instructions).
Water balcony strawberries with warm settled water 1-2 times a week at the rate of 0.5-1 l of water per plant. The frequency of watering depends on the size of the container and the air temperature. In cold and rainy weather, strawberries should be watered less often and with a smaller amount of water, and in hot and sunny weather - often and abundantly. The main rule is that the soil should always be slightly moist. But do not overdo it, otherwise the soil in the containers will start to «sour».
Rule 5. Continue to care even after harvesting
If you want strawberry bushes to give a good harvest for 3-4 years, do not forget to pay attention to them throughout the year. After harvesting, continue to water the plants as the earthen lump dries. Also, if necessary, remove mustaches and old leaves.
In the fall, when the air temperature drops below 4°C, insulate containers with plants with foam or another handy material or move them to an apartment or cellar. Also, do not forget to periodically moisten the ground in them.
Follow these simple rules, and you will surely harvest a good harvest of strawberries. For those who want to try ripe juicy berries already this season, we recommend not buying seeds, but seedlings grown in containers. Such plants take root well and quickly begin to grow. You can see the full list of strawberry varieties and hybrids here.
We wish you a good harvest and new dacha records!
