Growing Strawberries in Pots and Hanging Baskets

By Growing Hardy Annuals from Seed for Cut Flowers
Comments 35
8 Aug 2026

Growing Strawberries in Pots and Hanging Baskets

Strawberries are one of the most rewarding crops for a small garden or allotment, but slugs, birds and muddy fruit can ruin the harvest. Growing them in pots and hanging baskets solves many of these problems. Containers lift fruit clear of the ground, improve drainage and make picking a pleasure. You can move plants to the best spot as the season changes. With a little planning, you can enjoy berries from early summer to autumn, even if your only space is a patio, balcony or a few square metres of allotment.

Choose the Right Varieties for Containers

Not all strawberries suit container life. June-bearing types give one big crop over a few weeks. Everbearing (perpetual) and alpine varieties are better for pots and baskets because they fruit in smaller flushes from June to September or even October. Look for compact, trailing or everbearing types such as 'Malling Centenary' or 'Flamenco'. Alpine strawberries like 'Alexandria' are small but intensely flavoured and happy in a 15cm pot. For hanging baskets, choose a trailing or everbearing variety that will cascade over the edge and produce fruit at eye level. Plant bare-root runners in early spring; pot-grown plants can go in from March to September.

Pots, Baskets and Compost: Getting the Basics Right

A single strawberry needs at least a 20cm (8in) pot, but a 25–30cm pot gives a bigger, healthier plant. For a standard 35cm (14in) hanging basket, plant three to five strawberries. Use peat-free multipurpose compost mixed with 20 per cent grit or perlite for drainage. Strawberries hate soggy compost. Line hanging baskets with a coir or fabric liner, and add a handful of water-retaining granules to help bridge the gap between waterings. Terracotta dries out quickly; glazed ceramic or plastic holds moisture better. Make sure there are plenty of drainage holes.

Planting and Early Care

Water the compost thoroughly before planting and let it drain. Set the plant so the crown (where leaves emerge) sits exactly at compost level. Burying the crown invites rot; leaving it proud exposes roots. Firm gently and water again. For hanging baskets, work from the bottom up, adding compost and plants in layers if using the sides. Keep new plants in a sheltered, sunny spot for a week or two, then move to their final position. Remove runners that appear in the first month. For June-bearing types, pick off the first flowers to build strong roots; everbearing types can crop lightly.

Watering, Feeding and Pollination

Containers dry out fast. Check the compost daily in summer by pushing a finger in up to the first knuckle. Water when dry, aiming for consistently moist but not waterlogged. In hot weather, water twice a day, especially hanging baskets. A self-watering pot or drip irrigation kit saves time. Feed with high-potash tomato feed every two weeks from first flowers until the end of cropping. This encourages flowers and fruit rather than leaves. If growing under cover or in a still spot, pollinate by gently brushing each flower with a soft artist's brush or shaking the plant. Outdoors, bees usually do the job.

Dealing with Pests and Diseases

The main advantage of containers is slug control. Slugs rarely climb into hanging baskets or tall pots, though they can scale a pot next to a wall. Smear petroleum jelly around the rim or use copper tape. Birds are the next challenge; netting is simplest, but keep it taut and away from fruit. Vine weevil larvae can be a problem in pots. If plants wilt suddenly, tip them out and look for white, C-shaped grubs. Water in nematodes in late summer. Grey mould (botrytis) strikes in wet weather. Keep plants well spaced, remove mouldy fruit, and avoid watering foliage. Good air circulation is your best defence.

Harvesting, Renovating and Overwintering

Pick strawberries when fully coloured and slightly soft. Leave the green calyx attached. Eat them the same day; homegrown berries are far more fragrant than shop-bought. After cropping, renovate plants. Cut off old leaves about 5cm above the crown, remove runners and debris, and top-dress with fresh compost. In late autumn, move pots to a sheltered spot against a wall or into a cold frame. Strawberries are hardy, but roots in a pot can freeze solid. Wrap the pot in bubble wrap or hessian, and raise it onto pot feet. Water sparingly over winter. Replace compost and start fresh plants every two to three years, as yields decline and viruses build up.

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5 Comments

Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply
- John Abraham says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
  
  I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
  Reply
  - Robert Sonnysays Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
    
    I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
    Reply
Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply

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