Project for 2013 : containergrown strawberries

[sugar]

For some years, there are containers, designed for strawberry cultivation on the market. Aimed at the professional market, but available for hobbyists (altough the minimum order quantity is a bit prohibitif). I bought, together with some other enthousiasts, a pallet with 312 containers.

These containers have 'ears' on both sides of the container, allowing the strawberry fruit to bend down with sufficient support. The strawberries aren't touching the soil so no need to botch with stray. Capacity of a single container : 4 - 6 strawberry plants

These containers can easily be suspended in a frame (thanks to those ears), allowing cultivating strawberries without kneeling down...



The plants have been planted in may, and have grown well. I will be constructing a framework during winter...

[veggiechicken]

Interesting Sugar. Are they suspended between two parallel bars?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Judging from the pic I would say you are right VC made to go between two scaffold poles at a guess.

Colin

[veggiechicken]

Already, I'm trying to work out a way to make something similar without buying the pots!

[DuncanM]

I've grown lots of strawbs in pots this year. My advice would be to ensure you use a lot of the water storing granules. Mine dried out serious 3 or 4 times even during the summer we've had. I'll be repotting them all this winter to add the granules.

[sugar]

They will be suspended between to (vertical) parallel planks, much cheaper then using poles.

The containers are very cheap (2,1 EUR per container = £ 1,7 per container)

I will be adding a capillar drip irrigation system

[roitelet]

As an experiment this year I grew strawberries in plant troughs, 3 plants to a trough 60cm or so long. Put them in the tunnel and they did fine and the fruit didn't touch the ground. When they had finished the went outside to make room for other things. They will stay there until the end of Feb. when I will take them into the tunnel again for an early crop.

[hamesy]

I've got some old clay pipes that I'm planning on using next year for strawberries. Will be interesting to see how they turn out.

[veggiechicken]

The containers are very cheap (2,1 EUR per container = £ 1,7 per container)

Cheap if you buy 312 on a pallet! I only have a dozen or so plants

[sugar]

Cheap if you buy 312 on a pallet! I only have a dozen or so plants

That's why I've purchased those containers with some other enthousiasts. I have 48 containers, space for 200-300 strawberry plants. Don't ask me what I will do with all those strawberries, haven't got a clue myself

[veggiechicken]

I could give you my address

[sugar]

I finally had some time to construct the first frame for the containers. I will be producing two additional 'racks' over the next weeks, for a total of 54 containers

[veggiechicken]

They look good Sugar! I presume there are drainage holes at the bottom of the troughs?

[sugar]

There are two drainage holes. I need to add drainage pipes .